Cars.com Inc (NYSE: CARS) is an automotive digital marketplace company that connects car shoppers with franchise and independent dealerships across the United States and Canada. It makes money by selling subscription-based and transactional products to dealer customers, including marketplace listings, dealer website services, trade and appraisal tools, and in-market media solutions. The Cars.com marketplace reported approximately 26 million average monthly shoppers and approximately 19,500 franchise and independent dealer customers across the U.S. and Canada, per the 10-K filed 2026-02-26. Revenue comes from dealers and OEMs paying for access to the platform's audience, digital retailing tools, and data-driven advertising products. The business sits between car buyers and sellers, monetizing the transaction research process rather than the transaction itself. Dealer subscription fees tied to marketplace placement and website services form the core of the revenue base.

Revenue model

Subscription and product fees paid by franchise and independent dealers and OEMs for marketplace listings, dealer websites, trade and appraisal tools, and proprietary in-market media solutions. Revenue is recurring in nature, tied to dealer platform access rather than per-vehicle transaction commissions.

Products and services

Cars.com marketplace (flagship automotive listing and shopping platform with AI shopping tools and vehicle reviews), dealer website services, trade and appraisal tools, proprietary in-market media solutions, and data-driven intelligence products for dealerships and OEMs.

Customers and end markets

Approximately 19,500 franchise and independent dealer customers across the U.S. and Canada (per 10-K filed 2026-02-26). OEMs are also customers. End consumers are car shoppers, with approximately 26 million average monthly shoppers on the platform.

Value-chain role

Digital intermediary between automotive consumers and dealerships. Operates as a marketplace and software/media vendor to dealers and OEMs, sitting upstream of the physical vehicle transaction.

Geographic exposure

Primarily United States, with dealer customers also in Canada, per the 10-K filed 2026-02-26.

Source: SEC 10-K, filed 2026-02-26

Industry: Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation Peers: Alphabet Inc Angi Inc FaZe Holdings Inc. FuboTV Inc CarGurus Inc Eventbrite, Inc. Nextdoor Holdings Inc System1 Inc Vimeo, Inc. Ziprecruiter Inc