Jay Penske aligns with print, video and digital media veterans in new venture
“Our aim is to deliver the world’s most compelling car-related content to our Mail.com users," says Jay Penske, Chairman and CEO of MMC.
Since 2003, Penske has founded a number of successful technology and web-based content businesses. “The key to web-based content is quality," contends Penske. “The team we’ve assembled ensures that OnCars.com will be the leader in bringing the best automotive storytelling to the online and mobile media worlds."
Pfanner Communications principals Paul Pfanner and Bill Sparks have been in the automotive marketing and content production businesses for 29 years. They were the founders of Racer magazine and the publishers of a variety of specialty and custom titles including SportsCar.
Lingner Group Productions is an Emmy Award-winning TV production company based in Indianapolis. Founded by Terry Lingner, it has produced the Indy 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Olympic Games and the X-Games. Lingner Group affiliate Innovative, headed by Emmy Award winner Conrad Piccirillo, is developing the OnCars.com web site.
“OnCars.com will fill a demand for quality automotive content that’s more than just informative, it’s evocative," says Pfanner. “OnCars.com has been created to convey the emotional proposition that we believe is present in most cars today. To accomplish this, our intention is for OnCars to elevate the presentation of web-originated auto-related video content beyond anything seen before. We also plan to make OnCars available to an audience that is highly mobile by keeping them connected—anytime, anywhere—to what is new or next in car culture."
Rick Graves will serve as Creative Director for OnCars.com. One of the world’s leading automotive photographers and cinematographers, Graves has brought his talent for creating stunning automotive imagery to such clients as Acura, Honda, Mazda, Jaguar, Porsche, Cadillac, Toyota and Goodyear, and to publications including Motor Trend and Road & Track.
“I see OnCars.com as the next evolution of quality automotive media," says Graves. “The world’s automakers are building the fastest, sexiest and most luxurious cars ever. The time is right, and the technology is here, to showcase these incredible cars in an equally incredible new way."
On May 19, 2008, OnCars.com will officially launch to auto enthusiasts around the globe and begin providing content to Mail.com and its family of sites.