CDK Global
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA technology and data provider serving automotive, heavy-truck, recreation, and heavy-equipment businesses.
Last updated October 14, 2026
Overview
CDK Global is a U.S.-based provider of enterprise software, data, and digital marketing services for automotive and adjacent retail sectors. Its principal customers are automobile dealerships and dealer groups, although its product portfolio also serves heavy-truck, recreational-vehicle, and heavy-equipment businesses. CDK's systems support a broad portion of the dealership operating cycle, including vehicle sales, financing and insurance workflows, customer relationship management, service scheduling, repair orders, parts inventory, accounting, reporting, payroll-related processes, digital retailing, advertising, and marketing automation. The company originated inside Automatic Data Processing (ADP). ADP assembled a dealer-services business through acquisitions beginning in the 1970s, including National Inventory Control System and Computer System Inc. The division subsequently expanded through more than 30 acquisitions over several decades. Important components included Cobalt Digital Marketing and Kerridge Computer Company, a United Kingdom-based dealer-management-system supplier acquired by ADP in 2005. The name CDK combines references to Cobalt, the original ADP Dealer Services business, and Kerridge. On October 1, 2014, ADP separated its Dealer Services division into an independent publicly traded company named CDK Global. The newly independent company focused on integrating dealer-management software with customer-facing digital services and data products. Its commercial proposition was built around connecting dealership operations rather than selling isolated applications: a dealer could use CDK software across sales, finance, service, parts, marketing, and reporting functions while linking information between those departments. CDK operated internationally for part of its independent-company history, with products sold in more than 100 countries and a network of locations in multiple countries. In 2020 it agreed to sell its international operations to Francisco Partners; those operations were subsequently associated with the Keyloop business. This transaction sharpened CDK's concentration on North American dealership technology. Its principal competitive environment included Reynolds and Reynolds, Dealertrack, and the newer cloud-oriented provider Tekion. CDK attempted to expand its domestic dealer-management position through a proposed acquisition of Auto/Mate Dealership Systems in 2017. The Federal Trade Commission blocked the transaction in 2018, finding that the deal could reduce competition in an already concentrated market. The episode reflected the strategic importance and regulatory sensitivity of dealer-management systems, which often function as core infrastructure for dealership operations and contain commercially valuable operating data. Brookfield Business Partners and institutional partners agreed in April 2022 to acquire CDK for an enterprise value of approximately $8.3 billion. The transaction closed on July 6, 2022, taking CDK private and ending its Nasdaq-listed period. As a private company, CDK no longer has a publicly traded CDK ticker. In June 2024, CDK suffered a ransomware incident that disabled most of its services and disrupted thousands of dealerships in the United States and Canada. The outage affected activities such as vehicle sales processing, service operations, financing administration, inventory management, and customer communications. Reporting based on security researchers attributed the claimed attack to a group believed to be BlackSuit, while the company worked through a staged restoration process. The incident generated significant operational losses for dealers, lawsuits alleging negligence, and renewed scrutiny of the concentration of critical dealership functions in a small number of technology suppliers. CDK has also faced recurring antitrust and data-access disputes. Third-party integration provider Authenticom alleged that CDK and Reynolds and Reynolds restricted access to dealer-authorized data in order to limit competition. A federal court issued a preliminary injunction in 2017, and CDK later settled with Authenticom. Separate litigation concerning alleged pricing and data-integration practices produced a settlement involving $100 million plus administrative costs, with court approval reported in February 2025. Other disputes included a case brought by Autoloop and a 2024 antitrust action filed by Tekion. These matters have made data portability, interoperability, switching costs, and pricing central issues in the company's public legal history.
History
CDK Global traces its origins to ADP's effort to computerize dealership administration. In 1973, ADP acquired National Inventory Control System in Portland, Oregon, and Computer System Inc. in Cincinnati, Ohio. These businesses supplied dealership applications covering accounting, financial reporting, sales analysis, lease accounting, parts inventory, customer relations, sales and service management, and payroll services. The resulting Dealer Services division became a long-term platform for further expansion. Over the next 41 years, ADP developed the division through more than 30 acquisitions. The strategy broadened the business from back-office accounting and inventory applications into a connected technology suite for sales, finance, insurance, service, parts, customer management, and marketing. ADP acquired Kerridge Computer Company in 2005, adding a significant dealer-management-system business with United Kingdom roots. It also acquired BZ Results in 2006, strengthening digital marketing capabilities. Cobalt Digital Marketing became another important component of the eventual portfolio. On October 1, 2014, ADP Dealer Services was spun off as CDK Global. The new name drew on Cobalt, the former Dealer Services organization, and Kerridge. CDK entered the public market with a proposition centered on integrated information technology and digital marketing for dealers and related industries. Its software was intended to connect internal dealership departments with customer-facing processes, from targeted advertising and online shopping through vehicle delivery, financing, maintenance, parts, and repair. The company pursued further consolidation in dealer-management software. In 2017, CDK announced plans to acquire Auto/Mate Dealership Systems, but the Federal Trade Commission challenged the proposal and blocked it in March 2018. The regulator's action underscored the concentration of the dealer-management market and the importance of competition among core dealership-system providers. CDK subsequently reorganized its geographic focus. In 2020, it announced the sale of its international operations to Francisco Partners. The international business became associated with Keyloop, while CDK emphasized North American customers. Although CDK had a multinational footprint and products sold in more than 100 countries, the United States remained its central market. In April 2022, Brookfield Business Partners and institutional partners agreed to acquire CDK for a stated enterprise value of about $8.3 billion. The transaction closed on July 6, 2022. CDK therefore ceased to be a public company, and its former Nasdaq ticker is no longer an active public-market listing. CDK's modern history has also been shaped by disputes over market power and data access. Authenticom, a third-party data-integration provider, sued CDK and Reynolds and Reynolds in 2017, alleging that the companies blocked access to dealer data and coordinated to restrict competition. A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction requiring the defendants to stop blocking Authenticom when dealers authorized its services. CDK later settled with Authenticom. Additional litigation alleged unlawful pricing and restrictions in dealer-management and data-integration services; a settlement involving $100 million and administrative expenses was approved in February 2025. Autoloop and Tekion also pursued separate antitrust claims, keeping interoperability and dealer data portability at the center of industry debate. On June 19, 2024, a ransomware attack disabled most CDK services. Because dealerships use these systems for core sales, service, finance, inventory, and administrative processes, the outage affected thousands of businesses across the United States and Canada. Security researchers linked the attack claim to a group believed to be BlackSuit. Reports stated that CDK paid a ransom in bitcoin and began restoration several days after the initial disruption. Service recovery continued into early July. The event prompted dealership lawsuits, financial-loss estimates, concern about cybersecurity resilience, and discussion of the risks created when a concentrated software provider supports essential automotive-retail infrastructure.
- 2024
Ransomware outage
[1]A cyberattack disrupted most CDK services and affected thousands of dealerships in the United States and Canada.
- 2022
Brookfield takes CDK private
[1]Brookfield Business Partners and institutional partners completed the acquisition on July 6.
- 2020
International operations sold
[1]CDK announced the sale of its international operations to Francisco Partners, supporting a greater focus on North America.
- 2018
FTC blocks Auto/Mate transaction
[1]The Federal Trade Commission blocked the proposed acquisition on competition grounds.
- 2017
Auto/Mate acquisition announced
[1]CDK announced an agreement to acquire rival dealer-management supplier Auto/Mate.
- 2014
CDK Global becomes independent
[1]ADP spun off its Dealer Services division on October 1, creating the independent CDK Global company.
- 2006
ADP acquires BZ Results
[1]The transaction expanded ADP Dealer Services' digital marketing capabilities.
- 2005
ADP acquires Kerridge Computer Company
[1]The acquisition added a major United Kingdom dealer-management-system business to ADP's portfolio.
- 1973
ADP establishes the roots of Dealer Services
[1]ADP acquired National Inventory Control System and Computer System Inc., forming the foundation of its computerized dealership-services business.
Products and positioning
An integrated technology and data infrastructure partner for automotive dealerships and related equipment retailers.
Dealer management software
CDK Dealer Management System
CDK's core dealer-management capabilities support dealership accounting, financial reporting, sales analysis, lease administration, customer records, inventory, parts, service, repair orders, and operational reporting. The system is designed to connect departments that historically used separate applications, giving dealer groups a common operational and data environment.
Automotive sales and digital retailing
CDK Sales
Sales-oriented tools help dealerships manage vehicle shoppers, sales opportunities, inventory presentation, deal workflows, and customer interactions. These capabilities are intended to connect online and in-store buying activity with the dealership's broader operating system.
Service and repair management
CDK Service
Service products support scheduling, customer communication, repair-order processing, technician and shop workflows, maintenance activity, and service-department administration. They link service operations with customer, vehicle, parts, and financial records.
Digital marketing and advertising
CDK Marketing
Marketing capabilities cover targeted advertising, campaign execution, customer segmentation, digital engagement, and marketing automation. The products use dealership and customer data to help retailers promote vehicles, service, parts, and other offerings across digital channels.
CRM software
CDK Customer Relationship Management
CRM tools organize customer and prospect information across sales and service interactions. They support lead handling, follow-up, customer communications, and visibility into the relationship between shoppers, vehicles, dealership departments, and marketing activity.
Controversies
2024
Ransomware attack and extended service outage
A ransomware attack beginning June 19 took most CDK services offline and disrupted dealership operations across the United States and Canada. Reports linked the attack claim to a group believed to be BlackSuit. CDK undertook a staged restoration, while affected dealerships reported operational and financial losses and filed lawsuits alleging negligence.
2024
Dealer-management pricing and data-integration litigation
Dealership claims alleged that CDK and Reynolds and Reynolds conspired to impose unlawful prices in dealer-management and data-integration services. A settlement providing $100 million plus notice and administration costs was approved in February 2025.
2024
Tekion antitrust lawsuit
Tekion filed a federal antitrust action alleging that CDK withheld or delayed access to dealership operations data, making it harder for dealers to change systems and increasing switching costs.
2017
Authenticom antitrust and data-access dispute
Authenticom alleged that CDK and Reynolds and Reynolds coordinated to restrict third-party access to dealer-authorized data. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction requiring the companies to stop blocking Authenticom's authorized data-integration services. CDK later settled with Authenticom.
Brand decisions
2022
Accept Brookfield acquisitionM&ABackground
CDK agreed to be acquired after operating as a public company since its separation from ADP.
Action taken
Brookfield Business Partners and institutional partners acquired CDK for an enterprise value reported at approximately $8.3 billion, completing the transaction on July 6, 2022.
Aftermath
CDK became privately held and its public-market ticker ceased to be active.
Enterprise value. $8.3 billion transaction value (Announced April 7, 2022; completed July 6, 2022)
2020
Refocus on North American operationsStrategyBackground
CDK reassessed its international portfolio and sought to concentrate resources on its principal North American customer base.
Action taken
The company announced the sale of its international operations to Francisco Partners.
Aftermath
The international business became associated with Keyloop, while CDK emphasized North American automotive retail technology.
2017
Pursue Auto/Mate Dealership SystemsM&ABackground
CDK sought to expand its position in the concentrated dealer-management-system market.
Action taken
CDK announced an agreement to acquire Auto/Mate, but the Federal Trade Commission later blocked the transaction.
Aftermath
The proposed combination did not close, and the FTC's action highlighted regulatory concerns surrounding consolidation in dealership software.
2014
Separate Dealer Services from ADPStrategyBackground
ADP had built a substantial dealership technology division through acquisitions and chose to establish it as a standalone company.
Action taken
The Dealer Services division was spun off as CDK Global on October 1, 2014.
Aftermath
CDK operated as an independent public company focused on automotive and related-industry software and data services.
Recent events
- 2022
Brookfield completes acquisition of CDK Global[1]
M&A
Brookfield Business Partners and institutional partners completed the acquisition of CDK, taking the company private.
- 2020
CDK sells international operations[1]
M&A
CDK announced the sale of its international operations to Francisco Partners as it concentrated more heavily on North American automotive retail technology.
- 2018
FTC blocks proposed Auto/Mate acquisition[1]
M&A · Regulation
The Federal Trade Commission prevented CDK Global from acquiring Auto/Mate Dealership Systems, citing competition concerns in dealer-management software.
- 2014
ADP spins off Dealer Services as CDK Global[1]
M&A
Automatic Data Processing separated its Dealer Services division into the independent company CDK Global.
Sources3 sources
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