AMA and Black Book launch motorcycle value app for Android and iPhone

PICKERINGTON, OH – June 29, 2012 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – What’s your 2001 Kawasaki KLR650 worth? What about that 2004 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Classic you spot on the side of the road with a for-sale sign? Now you can find out right from your iPhone or Android device, thanks to a new app from the American Motorcyclist Association and AMA Corporate Member Black Book.

The AMA Motorcycle Value Guide powered by Black Book is an easy-to-use mobile phone app for iOS and Android devices that leverages the full power of the Black Book Motorcycle and Powersports Value Guide. The app is available now in the iTunes App Store and Android Marketplace for $1.99.

“If you want to avoid the anxiety of paying too much for a used motorcycle, or getting too little for yours, arm yourself with the objective data available in the AMA Motorcycle Value Guide powered by Black Book,” said AMA Communications and Marketing Director Grant Parsons. “The prices in the app are based on real sales, and that offers both buyers and sellers confidence and peace of mind.”

The AMA Motorcycle Value Guide powered by Black Book includes comprehensive value information on virtually all motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, dirtbikes, scooters, personal watercraft, jet boats and snowmobiles produced since 1981. The guide, updated monthly, includes the current retail values, a condition-based trade-in value, as well as the original MSRP.

“Motorcyclists deserve to have the most up-to-date market driven motorcycle value information on the planet at their fingertips when they buy or sell used bikes,” said Black Book’s Ricky Beggs. “We’re excited to work with the AMA to offer this new service to AMA members and others.”

To download the AMA Motorcycle Value Guide powered by Black Book, search for it in the iTunes App Store or the Android Marketplace.

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

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Industry Chooses Kelley Blue Book Values Over Competition in Automotive Digest Poll

KBB Preferred 3-to-1 by Industry as Only Used-Car Valuation Source

IRVINE, CA – June 9, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Kelley Blue Book, www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new and used car information, today announces it ranked highest in an AutomotiveDigest.com poll asking site visitors “If you were to use only one Used-Vehicle Value Guide, which one would it be?”  Kelley Blue Book garnered 66.23 percent of the votes, followed by NADA Used Car Guide (16.88 percent), Black Book (14.29 percent) and Galves Auto Price List (2.60 percent).

“Kelley Blue Book continues to provide leading edge used-vehicle data and information that dealers can use in purchasing and marketing inventory competitively,” said Chuck Parker, publisher for Automotive Digest.  ”As seen in the survey results, Kelley Blue Book has again demonstrated its position as one of the leading industry sources of vehicle valuations.”

In the last few years, Kelley Blue Book has hired market analysts, statisticians, mathematicians, data management and technology experts with extensive industry experience, growing its analytic team almost threefold.  During the same period, the company has taken data acquisition to a new level, obtaining vehicle-related information from more than 250 sources.  The company collects thousands of data points for every vehicle and is the only valuation company that manages lifetime vehicle information in a single database, including new, used and residual values.  Its transaction database houses more than 256 million observations, which includes over 1.5 million vehicles that have been physically inspected at auctions nationwide by the company’s dedicated field force.  With weekly updates and the advanced statistical models Kelley Blue Book employs, the company can accurately project what values will be next week, next month, and even further in the future.

“Kelley Blue Book works tirelessly to produce the most market-relevant vehicle values by continually pushing the technological and quantitative envelope.” said Vince Nelson, executive vice president of Analytic Insights for Kelley Blue Book.  ”Being recognized as the preferred used-car valuation guide reinforces the work we do and our commitment to being the world’s most trusted resource for buying and selling vehicles, with values at its core.”

Automotive Digest’s poll was conducted on their website from May 9 to May 19, 2010.  For information on Kelley Blue Book dealer products, services and solutions, visit www.800bluebook.com.

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)

Since 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, has provided vehicle buyers and sellers with the new- and used-vehicle information they need to accomplish their goals with confidence.  The company’s top-rated website, www.kbb.com, provides the most up-to-date pricing and values, including the New Car Blue Book® Value, which reveals what people actually are paying for new cars.  The company also reports vehicle pricing and values via products and services, including software products and the famous Blue Book® Official Guide.  According to the C.A. Walker Research Solutions, Inc. – 2009 Spring Automotive Website Usefulness Study, kbb.com is the most useful automotive information website among new- and used-vehicle shoppers, and half of online vehicle shoppers visit kbb.com.  Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com also is a W3 Gold Award winner, sanctioned by the International Academy of Visual Arts.  Kbb.com is a leading provider of new car prices, used car Blue Book Values, car reviews, new cars for sale, used cars for sale, and car dealer locations.

SOURCE: Kelley Blue Book

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Swapalease Sees Used Car Prices Up, Lease Payments Down

CINCINNATI, OH – May 27, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Pre-owned vehicle transaction prices rose nearly 7.0 percent when compared to the same period in 2009, per leading automotive market research company CNW Research.  Black Book data quoted recently in the Automotive News showed significant increases in the value of vehicles such as the Chevrolet Malibu (35%) and Honda Accord (24%).  In addition, certified sales have increased approximately 8 percent compared to a year ago.

Various factors have caused this increase in pre-owned vehicle values, including both the supply and demand of used vehicles.  Government programs such as “Cash For Clunkers” effectively reduced the available supply of used vehicles for consumer purchase.  Post bankruptcy domestic automakers have dramatically limited production schedules and the automotive industry overall has cutback as a result of market forecasts falling well below peak levels.

This combination of fewer pre-owned units being available coupled with lower new vehicle inventories has forced prices upwards with more consumers competing for a smaller pool of vehicles.  In addition, the availability of credit to a wider array of automotive buyers as financial markets recover is increasing competition as well.

“Historically leasing companies have been able to set lower lease payments on new cars when pre-owned vehicle demand is strong.  This demand allows lenders to use higher residual values in their calculation,” notes Scot Hall the EVP of Operations at Swapalease.com.  Hall continues, “This is due to lessors utilizing higher residual values which decreases the amount of depreciation in the lease calculation.  Less depreciation will often offset the higher original vehicle sales price ultimately saving the leasing consumer money every month through lower payments.”

For more information about Swapalease.com or how to exit your lease early, call 866-SWAPNOW or visit www.swapalease.com.

About Swapalease.com:
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Swapalease.com is the world’s largest automotive lease marketplace and the pioneer in facilitating lease transfers online. First conceptualized in 1997, Swapalease has evolved into a leading automotive consumer online destination servicing all aspects of the automotive leasing lifecycle including education, research, pricing, acquisition and lease transfer. For more information, please call 866-SWAPNOW (866-792-7669) or visit www.swapalease.com.

SOURCE Swapalease.com

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