The Sun has launched an online used car classified advertising website.
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It follows fellow News International brand the Sunday Times into the market. On launch it had 31,000 cars listed.
Live today, sunmotors.co.uk offers used car listings with editorial content from The Sun’s motoring section and reviews from Sun motoring writers.
In common with sister site Driving.co.uk, The Sun is offering a pay on performance model, meaning Dealers only pay for qualifying leads delivered via phone, email and Live Chat. There will also be a free introductory period where dealers can see for themselves how useful the site will be in delivering leads until 31 May 2014.
The site will initially be launching as a beta (test) product, with the first few weeks focusing on building the volume of vehicles before it is open to consumers.
Sun Motors will launch with a selection of vehicles from Driving.co.uk.
Sun Motors will campaign on key issues that affect readers, such as fuel tax, parking fines and speed cameras. The website - powered by NetDirector – doesn’t require a Sun subscription and is free for buyers to use. It launched under a headline 'Car blimey.. it’s the new Sun Motors website'.
David Dinsmore, The Sun's editor, said: “Echoing The Sun’s brand and world-class motoring content, sunmotors.co.uk is completely in tune with our readers.
"Consumers want to know they can trust the information supplied about a used car and Sun Motor’s is a one-stop-shop where they can read informative reviews and seek expert advice before parting with their hard-earned cash.
"Unlike other classified ad sites the fully-responsive new website means you can use it on your mobile, tablet or desktop.”
Jim Murray-Jones, general manager of News UK Automotive and Sunday Times Driving, said of the new site: “We will be offering users an impressive range of vehicles and, at the same time, giving dealers a chance to boost sales with access to the 12 million people who read The Sun every week. With an already established online platform, vast loyal readership and global motoring expertise, The Sun is perfectly placed to enter into the classified car market.”
> News International, as it was then called, launched driving.co.uk in October 2012 listing cars for £14,000 and over. Dealers were offered a four month free trial to upload stock.
It adjusted its strategy in May 2013 from being premium focussed on cars priced over £14,000 to reducing the entry price to £10,000 and then down to all brands and models at £1,000.
Jeremy has been a journalist for 30 years, 20 of which have been in business-to-business automotive. He was a writer and news editor on AM-sister brand Fleet News for three years before setting up the AM website. For the last five years he has been Bauer B2B’s head of digital helping to manage the digital assets of AM, together with Fleet News, Commercial Fleet, Rail and Smart Transport.
DGMHGTE - 03/02/2014 20:02
First and foremost it's great to see the news has created a conversation amongst dealers and your feedback is appreciated. Whether or not you support the move I'd love the opportunity to chat with you, in person or over the phone. For us it's about creating the best user experience, and this goes for both for the consumer and the dealer. As buyers continue to embrace technology, and are empowered by the information that technology brings, your input and feedback is vital to ensuring 'we' succeed. Feel free to contact me if you'd like to get involved. David Hawksworth Trade Marketing Manager - News UK Automotive david.hawksworth@news.co.uk