The Top-Level Domain (TLD) .CARS is a generic and sponsored domain extension that was introduced as part of the New gTLD Program by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in 2015. This program sought to expand the domain name system (DNS) with new and inventive top-level domains.
Targeting the automotive industry, .CARS provides a specific platform for auto manufacturers, dealerships, auto service businesses, and car enthusiasts to create a unique online presence. Whether it is a website showcasing a new model of a car or an online store for automobile parts and accessories, .CARS aims to provide a descriptive, memorable, and easy-to-find domain for stakeholders in the automotive industry.
The initial administrator for the .CARS TLD is Uniregistry, Corp., a large retail domain name registrar and web services company founded in 2012. Uniregistry was chosen by ICANN following a bidding process to manage the .CARS TLD due to their experience and capacity to provide reliable operations and support services.
Several companies and organizations have embraced the .CARS domain for their websites. Ferrari, for instance, employs this TLD for its dedicated website sharing news and articles related to the Ferrari brand – www.news.ferrari.cars, and Exotic Cars use it for their Las Vegas-based car dealership – www.exotic.cars.
As with other TLDs introduced by ICANN, the domain names under .CARS are subject to the Domain Name Policy and Regulations established by ICANN, which includes dispute resolution and intellectual property protection mechanisms. The ‘Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP)’ provides a process for resolving domain-name disputes, and the ‘Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH)’ protects trademark rights for brand owners.
Registering a .CARS domain is straightforward, and interested parties can do so through various domain name registrars, such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, and others. However, it’s essential to note that compared to other generic TLD’s like .com or .net, .CARS domains tend to be more expensive due to their categorization as a premium TLD.
Information about the .CARS TLD can be found in several ICANN documents and on the websites of domain name registrars. Beyond that, comprehensive details about the use and management of the .CARS TLD, as well as other new gTLDs, can be found in studies and reports published by research institutions such as the Oxford Internet Institute and digital branding agencies like Verisign.
Sources:
1. ICANN. (2015). New gTLD Program.
2. Uniregistry. (2015). Uniregistry to administer .CARS TLD.
3. ICANN. (2015). Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP)
4. ICANN. (2015). Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH)
5. Oxford Internet Institute. (2015). New gTLDs and the Internet Namespace.
6. Verisign. (2015). The Expanding Internet Namespace: An analysis of the New gTLD Program.
7. GoDaddy. (2015). .CARS Domain Names.
8. Ferrari News. www.news.ferrari.cars.
9. Exotic Cars. www.exotic.cars.
