The top-level domain (TLD) .auto is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) that is mainly intended for businesses, organizations, and individuals involved in the automotive industry. It is a relatively newly introduced TLD that has been part of the expansive Internet namespace since 2015. Its introduction, spearheaded by ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), was part of a larger initiative to broaden the available set of TLDs for online entities to create more meaningful and industry-specific web addresses.
According to the ICANN Wiki page about .auto, this gTLD is now owned and operated by XYZ.COM LLC, one of the renowned domain registrar companies who actively pursued new gTLDs during ICANN’s expansion phase. XYZ.COM LLC originally stood as the back-up applicant for .auto during the initial bid but eventually acquired it from the initial owner.
A .auto domain would typically be used by everyone from car dealerships, to auto repairing services, to automobile manufacturers, and even to car enthusiasts running blogs or forums. For instance, a car dealer company could opt for a domain name like “abc.auto” instead of “abccars.com”, which not only is shorter and more memorable but inherently suggests that the business is directly related to the automotive field.
The .auto domain is one of the more exclusive TLDs and can indeed be more expensive to register than your general .com, .org, or .net domains, depending on the domain registrar you choose. This pricing strategy aids in maintaining the exclusivity and relevance of the domain, deterring irrelevant entities from acquiring a .auto domain, and clogging the space.
Despite its higher price, the .auto gTLD saw early adoption from major businesses in the auto industry, as indicated by some domain name websites. This demonstrates how the domain has added value to the digital presence strategy of these businesses.
Namesilo and GoDaddy, two large domain name registrars, both list the .auto TLD on their website for purchase. As such, despite the higher cost compared to standard TLDs, there are still major recognized players in the domain name marketplace offering .auto domains.
Therefore, the .auto domain is a specialized component of the expanded Internet namespace and can be advantageous for businesses, organizations, and individuals operating within the automotive industry. Its cost and exclusivity also lead to a more tightly defined and relevant digital space for automotive related entities.
Sources:
1. ICANN Wiki – https://icannwiki.org/.auto
2. Namesilo – https://www.namesilo.com
3. GoDaddy – https://www.godaddy.com
