| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The Company’s accounting and financial reporting policies conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Company is reporting the historical results of the divested ALG subsidiary, including its results of operations and cash flows, as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Unless otherwise noted, the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements have all been revised to reflect continuing operations only. Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of TrueCar and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Business acquisitions are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of the acquisition. The Company’s purchase accounting results in all assets and liabilities of acquired businesses being recorded at their estimated fair values on the acquisition dates. Divestitures are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements through the date of disposition. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Assets and liabilities that are subject to judgment and use of estimates include sales allowances and allowances for doubtful accounts, contract assets, the fair value of assets and liabilities assumed in business combinations, the recoverability and related impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, valuation allowances with respect to deferred tax assets, useful lives associated with property and equipment and intangible assets, measurement of right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities, contingencies, and the valuation and assumptions underlying stock-based compensation awards and other equity instruments. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates compared to historical experience and trends, which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities. In addition, the Company engaged valuation specialists to assist with management’s determination of the fair values of its single reporting unit related to goodwill impairment, right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, assets and liabilities assumed in business combinations, assets and liabilities of its equity method investment and performance-based stock units. Segments The Company has one operating segment. The Company has gone through various organizational changes in the current year, and as a result of these changes, the Company’s chief operating decision maker (the "CODM") was comprised of a group of individuals including the President and CEO, the Chief Operating Officer ("COO"), and the CFO at various points from January 1, 2023 through October 2, 2023. During this time period, the CODM jointly managed the Company’s operations based on consolidated financial information for purposes of evaluating financial performance and allocating resources. Due to the evolution of roles and responsibilities among executive leadership, the CODM was comprised solely of the President and CEO from October 2, 2023 through December 31, 2023, who managed the Company’s operations based on consolidated financial information for purposes of evaluating financial performance and allocating resources. The CODM reviews financial information on a consolidated basis, accompanied by information about dealer revenue, OEM incentive revenue, and other revenue (Note 6). All of the Company’s principal operations, decision-making functions and assets are located in the United States. Equity Method Investment On February 8, 2019, the Company acquired 20% of the outstanding equity interests of Accu-Trade, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Accu-Trade”), from R.M. Hollenshead Auto Sales & Leasing, Inc., a Florida corporation (“RHAS”), Robert M. Hollenshead (“Hollenshead”) and Jeffrey J. Zamora (“Zamora” and, together with RHAS and Hollenshead, the “Sellers”), pursuant to a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 8, 2019 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among Accu-Trade, RHAS, Hollenshead, Zamora and the Company. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, the Company paid the Sellers $17.9 million in cash consideration and made a $5 million capital contribution to Accu-Trade. The Compa ny recognizes its p roportional share of the income or loss from the equity method investment on a one-quarter lag due to the timing and availability of financial information from Accu-Trade. Included in the initial carrying value of $22.9 million, which represents the fair value on the transaction date, was a basis difference of $22.9 million related to the difference between the cost of the investment and the Company’s proportionate share of the net assets of Accu-Trade. The carrying value of the equity method investment is primarily adjusted for the Company’s share in the income and losses of Accu-Trade and amortization of the basis difference. The Company amortizes its basis difference between the estimated fair value and the underlying book value of Accu-Trade’s technology and guarantor relationship over their respective useful lives using the straight-l ine method. These intangible assets are am ortized over a weighted-average useful life of approximately 5 years measured at the transaction date. Th e Company assesses the carrying value of its investment in Accu-Trade for impairment whenever changes in the facts and circumstances indicate a loss in value has occurred. When indicators exist, the fair value is estimated and compared to the investment carrying value. If any impairment is judgmentally determined to be other than temporary, the carrying value of the investment is written down to fair value. On February 2, 2022, the Company entered into a redemption agreement with Accu-Trade to redeem the Company’s 20% ownership interest in Accu-Trade. As a result of the events and circumstances leading up to the Company’s entry into the redemption agreement with Accu-Trade, the Company concluded that the investment in Accu-Trade was impaired and recorded a $4.1 million impairment charge in its equity method investment for the year ended December 31, 2021, which is included within “Gain (loss) from equity method investment” on the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. On March 1, 2022, the Company sold its 20% ownership interests in Accu-Trade at the investment’s carrying value and recorded a derivative asset for the right to receive escrow payments. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we recognized a gain of $1.8 million from changes in fair value of the derivative asset from inception till its settlement in Q2 2022. The gain is included within Gain (loss) from equity method investment on the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. Fair Value Measurements Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Accounting standards describe a fair value hierarchy based on the following three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value: • Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets, liabilities or funds. • Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. • Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Fair Value Methods Fair value is based on quoted market prices, if available. If listed prices or quotes are not available, fair value is based on internally-developed models that primarily use market-based or independently sourced market parameters as inputs. For assets and liabilities measured at fair value, the following section describes the valuation methodologies, key inputs, and significant assumptions. Cash equivalents, consisting primarily of money market instruments and debt securities, represent highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at purchase. Generally, market prices are used to determine the fair value of money market instruments and debt securities. The carrying amounts of cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, prepaid and other current assets, accounts payable, and accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these items. Certain assets, including the equity method investment, right-of-use assets, property and equipment, goodwill, and intangible assets are also subject to measurement at fair value on a non-recurring basis if they are deemed to be impaired as a result of an impairment review. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2021, the Company recorded right-of-use asset impairment charges of $2.4 million and $1.7 million , respectively, related to office operating leases. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $4.1 million related to its equity method investment in Accu-Trade. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded goodwill impairment charges of $59.8 million. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized a gain of $1.8 million from changes in fair value of a derivative asset recognized from the sale of its equity method investment in Accu-Trade. The Company recorded a contingent consideration liability upon the acquisition of Digital Motors in 2022. The contingent consideration is measured at fair value and is based on significant inputs not observable in the market which include the probability of achieving certain future targets. This represents a Level 3 measurement within the fair-value hierarchy. The valuation of contingent consideration uses assumptions the Company believes a market participant would make. The Company assesses these estimates on an ongoing basis as it obtains additional data impacting the assumptions. Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration related to updated assumptions and estimates are recognized within the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. During the second quarter of 2023 the Company amended the purchase agreement in connection with its Restructuring Plan (Note 10) such that the future targets were considered 100% achieved, and as a result, there were no significant unobservable inputs used to measure the contingent consideration liability as of December 31, 2023. The following table summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2023 and 2022 by level within the fair-value hierarchy. The current and non-current portions of contingent consideration reside within “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” and “Other liabilities”, respectively, within the consolidated balance sheet. These assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement (in thousands): At December 31, 2023 At December 31, 2022 Total Fair Total Fair Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Value Assets: Cash equivalents $ 119,735 $ — $ — $ 119,735 $ 57,518 $ — $ — $ 57,518 Total Assets $ 119,735 $ — $ — $ 119,735 $ 57,518 $ — $ — $ 57,518 Liabilities: Contingent consideration, current $ — $ — $ 1,981 $ 1,981 $ — $ — $ 1,983 $ 1,983 Contingent consideration, non-current — — 3,611 3,611 — — 4,678 4,678 Total Liabilities $ — $ — $ 5,592 $ 5,592 $ — $ — $ 6,661 $ 6,661 Contingent Consideration Obligations The following table summarizes the changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration obligation (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2023 Fair value, at beginning of year $ 6,661 Additions — Payoff (2,000) Changes in fair value 931 Fair value, at end of year $ 5,592 Concentrations of Credit and Business Risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company, at times, maintains cash balances at financial institutions in excess of amounts insured by United States government agencies or payable by the United States government directly. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with high credit quality financial institutions. Credit is extended to customers based on an evaluation of their financial condition and other factors. The Company generally does not require collateral or other security to support accounts receivable. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts ba sed on these evaluations. No single customer comprised more than 10% of the Company’s total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. At December 31, 2023 one customer comprised 32.3% of the Company’s accounts receivable balance. At December 31, 2022 no single customer comprised more than 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable balance. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original or remaining maturity at the date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, cash and cash equivalents were comprised primarily of cash held in money market funds and checking accounts. At December 31, 2023, cash and cash equivalents included $1.9 million of restricted cash that is used to collateralize a letter of credit to secure certain of the Company’s obligations under one of its office leases. Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, and Sales Allowances The Company extends credit in the normal course of business to its customers and performs credit evaluations on a case-by-case basis. The Company does not obtain collateral or other security related to its accounts receivable. Accounts receivable are recorded based on the amount due from the customer and do not bear interest. The Company reduces accounts receivable for sales allowances and its allowance for doubtful accounts. For contract assets, the Company records the assets net of sales allowances and an allowance for doubtful accounts, which are estimated in the same manner as for accounts receivable balances. The Company establishes sales allowances at the time of revenue recognition based on its history of adjustments and credits provided to its network of dealers. Sales allowances relate primarily to credits issued where a dealer claims that an introduction was previously identified by the dealer from a source other than the Company. While the dealer is contractually obligated to pay the invoice, the Company may issue a credit against the invoice to maintain overall dealer relations. In assessing the adequacy of its sales allowances, the Company evaluates its history of adjustments and credits made through the date of the issuance of the financial statements. Estimated sales adjustments and credits and ultimate losses may vary from actual results which could be material to the financial statements; however, to date, actual sales allowances have been materially consistent with the Company’s estimates. The Company determines its allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical write-off experience and specific circumstances that make it likely that recovery will not occur. The Company reviews the allowance for doubtful accounts periodically and assesses the aging of account balances, with an emphasis on those that are past due over ninety days. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company determines that it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. The Company does not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers. The Company considers the need to adjust historical information to reflect the extent to which the Company expects current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts to differ from the conditions that existed for the period over which historical information was evaluated. The primary current and future economic indicators that the Company uses to develop its current estimate of expected credit losses include the current and forecast U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Company calculates the expected credit losses on a pool basis for those trade receivables that have similar risk characteristics. For those trade receivables that do not share similar risk characteristics, the allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated on an individual basis. Risk characteristics relevant to the Company’s accounts receivable include revenue billing model and aging status. The following table summarizes the changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts and sales allowances (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2023 2022 2021 Allowances, at beginning of year $ 1,073 $ 3,099 $ 7,147 Charged as a reduction of revenue 2,569 2,661 4,205 Charged to bad debt expense in general and administrative expenses 696 718 528 Write-offs, net of recoveries (3,220) (5,405) (8,781) Allowances, at end of year $ 1,118 $ 1,073 $ 3,099 Property and Equipment, net Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which is generally three years for computer hardware and software, five years for furniture and equipment, and over the shorter of the lease term or the useful life of the assets for leasehold improvements. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the Company’s results of operations. Leases The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and determines the classification of the lease, as either operating or finance, at commencement. The Company does not have any finance leases. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The Company estimates the incremental borrowing rate to reflect the profile of secured borrowing over the expected term of the leases based on the information available at the later of the initial date of adoption or the lease commencement date. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Sublease rental income is recognized as a reduction to the related lease expense on a straight-line basis over the sublease term. See Note 4 for additional information. Software and Website Development Costs The Company accounts for the costs of computer software obtained or developed for internal use in accordance with FASB ASC 350, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other . Computer software development costs and website development costs are expensed as incurred, except for internal use software or website development costs that qualify for capitalization as described below, and include certain employee related expenses, including salaries, bonuses, benefits and stock-based compensation expenses; costs of computer hardware and software; and costs incurred in developing features and functionality. These capitalized costs are included in property and equipment on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company expenses costs incurred in the preliminary project and post-implementation stages of software development and capitalizes costs incurred in the application development stage and costs associated with significant enhancements to existing internal use software applications. Software costs are amortized using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of three years commencing when the software project is ready for its intended use. Costs incurred related to less significant modifications and enhancements as well as maintenance are expensed as incurred. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, capitalized software costs were $85.9 million and $79.0 million, respectively, before accumulated amortization of $68.1 million and $61.6 million, respectively. Expected amortization expense with respect to capitalized software costs at December 31, 2023 for each of the years through December 31, 2026 is as follows (in thousands): Years ended December 31, 2024 $ 9,756 2025 6,130 2026 2,005 Total amortization expense $ 17,891 Intangible Assets Acquired in Business Combinations The Company values assets acquired and liabilities assumed on each acquisition accounted for as a business combination, and allocates the purchase price to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on its best estimate of fair value. Acquired intangible assets include: customer relationships and developed technology. The Company determines the appropriate useful life of intangible assets by performing an analysis of cash flows based on historical experience of the acquired businesses. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives based on the pattern in which the economic benefits associated with the asset are expected to be consumed, which to date has approximated the straight-line method of amortization. The estimated useful lives for customer relationships and technology are generally two one Long-Lived Assets The Company evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets, including its ROU assets, with finite useful lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Such triggering events or changes in circumstances may include: a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset, a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which a long-lived asset is being used, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, the impact of competition or other factors that could affect the value of a long-lived asset, a significant deterioration in the amount of revenue or cash flows expected to be generated from an asset group, an accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition or development of a long-lived asset, current or future operating or cash flow losses that demonstrate continuing losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset, or a current expectation that, more likely than not, a long-lived asset will be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly before the end of its previously-estimated useful life. The Company performs impairment testing at the asset group level that represents the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. If events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable and the expected undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the asset group are less than the carrying amount of the asset group, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value is recorded. Fair value is determined based upon estimated discounted future cash flows. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2021, the Company recorded ROU asset impairment charges of $2.4 million and $1.7 million, respectively, related to certain operating leases. See Note 4 for additional information. During the year ended December 31, 2022, there were no impairment charges recorded on the Company’s long-lived assets. Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price paid over the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired in the Company’s business combinations. Goodwill is not amortized and is tested for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Events or changes in circumstances that could trigger an impairment review include a significant adverse change in business climate, an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, unanticipated competition, a loss of key personnel, significant changes in the manner of use of the acquired assets or the Company’s overall business strategy, significant negative industry or economic trends, significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future results of operations, or a decline in the Company’s stock price and market capitalization. Due to the impacts of our analysis described in the following paragraphs, the Company does not have a goodwill balance as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. During the second quarter of 2022, as a result of the continued economic disruption as well as a decline in the Company’s stock price and market capitalization, the Company concluded a triggering event had occurred as of June 30, 2022. The Company performed an interim quantitative impairment test, in which the Company estimated the fair value of its single reporting unit by utilizing a market approach, which is based on the market capitalization of the Company using its share price in the Nasdaq Global Select Market and an appropriate control premium. Determining the control premium requires the exercise of significant assumptions and judgments, which are considered Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy, including expected future cash flows, which were based on the synergies market participants could realize if they acquire the reporting unit, and the discount rate. Based on the results of the interim impairment test, the Company concluded that the fair value of its reporting unit was greater than the carrying value and that goodwill was not impaired as of June 30, 2022. During the third quarter of 2022, as a result of additional macroeconomic disruptions, including rising interests rates, and a further decline in market capitalization, the Company concluded a triggering event had occurred. The Company performed an interim quantitative impairment test as of September 30, 2022 utilizing an income approach. Under the income approach, the Company used a discounted cash flow analysis. Determining fair value requires the exercise of significant assumptions and judgments, which are considered Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy, including the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, long-term growth rates, and the discount rates. The Company also performed a reconciliation of the fair value of the reporting unit to the Company’s market capitalization as of September 30, 2022. The market capitalization reconciliation included the estimation of a reasonable control premium and other market factors such as control premiums observed in market transactions. Based on the results of the impairment test, the Company concluded that the carrying value of its single reporting unit exceeded the fair value and, accordingly, recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $59.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2022. Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the Company’s customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The Company determines revenue recognition through the following steps: • Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer; • Identification of the performance obligations in the contract; • Determination of the transaction price; • Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and • Recognition of revenue when, or as, the performance obligation or obligations are satisfied. Dealer Revenue Dealer revenue is comprised of Auto Buying Program revenue as well as revenue from TrueCar Trade and Sell Your Car and DealerScience. Auto Buying Program revenues include fees paid by customers participating in the Company’s dealer network with which the Company has an agreement (“TrueCar Certified Dealers” or “Dealers”). TrueCar Certified Dealers pay the Company fees in one of three ways: on a per-vehicle basis for sales to Auto Buying Program users, on a per-introduction basis for introductions to Auto Buying Program users, or under a subscription arrangement. Additionally, certain Dealers pay an incremental subscription fee for add-on products within our Auto Buying Program. Contracts are cancellable by the Dealer or the Company at any time. The Company does not provide significant Dealer financing terms. The Company’s performance obligation to TrueCar Certified Dealers is the same for all payment types for our Auto Buying Program revenues: to provide Dealers with introductions to in-market consumers through the use of the TrueCar platform, so that those Dealers have the opportunity to sell vehicles to those consumers. Control transfers to Dealers upon delivery of introductions, which is the point at which the Company recognizes revenue. When a user decides to proceed with a vehicle purchase through the Company, the user provides his or her name, address, email, and phone number during the process of obtaining price offers on actual vehicle inventory, which gives the Company the identity and source of a TrueCar introduction provided to a specific Dealer before an actual sale occurs. After a sale occurs, the Company receives information regarding the sale, including the identity of the purchaser, through the Dealer Management System used by the Dealer that makes the sale. The Company also receives information regarding vehicle sales from a variety of other data sources, including third-party car sales aggregators, car dealer networks, and other publicly available sources (collectively, “sales data”) and uses this sales data to further verify that a sale has occurred between an Auto Buying Program user and a TrueCar Certified Dealer, as well as to invoice Pay-Per-Sale Dealers shortly after the completion of the sales transaction. Pay-Per-Sale. Under fee arrangements based on a pay-per-sale billing model, revenue for the Auto Buying Program is recognized when introductions are delivered to the Dealer and for the amount that the Company estimates it will be able to earn. To formulate this estimate, the Company uses the expected value method based primarily on an analysis of the expected number of sales resulting from in-period introductions. This estimate is based on historical introductions to vehicle sale close rate trends as well as actual sales measured in period. Under the contractual terms and conditions of arrangements with TrueCar Certified Dealers that pay on a per-vehicle-sale basis, the Dealer is not obligated to pay the Company until a vehicle sale has occurred between the Auto Buying Program user and the Dealer, for which the introduction was provided to the Dealer by the Company. Contractually, the Dealers’ obligation to pay is not contingent on verification or acceptance of the transaction by the Dealer. As a result, revenue recognition occurs earlier than billing as an estimate of the variable con |
