|
Autobytel and Potamkin Automotive, a Top 20 MegaDealer Group, Sign National Marketing Agreement
National Online Customer Referral Program Designed to Increase Online Business
Irvine, CA. – February 2, 2007 – Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq: ABTL), a leading Internet automotive marketing services company, and Potamkin Automotive, a top 20 MegaDealer group, announced today that they have signed an agreement to create a national online customer referral program from Autobytel to the Potamkin Automotive dealerships. The marketing agreement will encompass Potamkin Automotive’s 44 franchises in seven states.
“We understand that today’s online customers want information fast and hassle free; Autobytel stands out in providing us large numbers of ready-to-buy customers, while also giving us outstanding personalized onsite support and training,” said David Frieder, Vice President of Purchasing, Potamkin Automotive.
In addition to receiving Purchase Requests for new and used vehicles from Autobytel’s vast audience of monthly web car shoppers, Potamkin dealerships will benefit from Autobytel’s proprietary 7-step Quality Verification System (SM), one of the industry’s most rigorous programs to verify the purchase-intent of online customers and a critical component in the conversion ratio of Autobytel.com’s leads, which have the highest closing ratio among large new-car lead services.*
“Since we have multiple dealerships across the country, the strength of Autobytel’s network allows us to offer our customers a truly exhilarating car buying experience,” said Ralph Perkins, Potamkin Automotive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “We expect very positive results from our new marketing alliance with Autobytel.”
“This relationship marks our ninth marketing agreement with one of the nation’s MegaGroups,” said Jim Riesenbach, president and CEO, Autobytel. “We are pleased to see Potamkin, one of the largest dealer groups, recognize the value Autobytel can bring to its business.”
Ward's Dealer Business Magazine ranked Potamkin Automotive, listed as Planet Automotive, the 19th largest MegaGroup in 2006.
* Autobytel.com’s Closing Ratio Is Highest Among Large New-Car Lead Services According to J.D. Power and Associates Dealer Satisfaction Study, Autobytel press release 9/25/06
About Autobytel Inc.
Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq: ABTL) is one of the largest online automotive marketplaces, empowering consumers to make smart vehicle choices using objective automotive data and insightful interactive editorial content. The result is a convenient car-buying process backed by a nationwide network of dealers who are committed to providing a positive consumer experience. Every day consumers choose Autobytel-owned and operated websites—Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, CarSmart.com, Car.com, and CarTV.com – to facilitate their car-shopping decisions. Autobytel’s ability to attract millions of highly qualified, in-market car buyers and connect them with retailers has made it a leader in facilitating the entire customer car-buying lifecycle.
The Company’s innovative marketing, advertising and CRM products, including its Web Control® customer management system, Retention Performance Marketing (RPM®) service reminder program, and Special Finance Leads, are designed to enable dealers to offer a premium consumer experience. Since pioneering pro-consumer online automotive content and purchasing in 1995, Autobytel has helped more than twenty-seven million car buyers, generating billions of dollars in car sales for dealers.
Contacts:
Autobytel Inc. Media Relations
Melanie Webber, Autobytel Inc., 949.862.3023 (melaniew@autobytel.com)
Rose Maciejewski, Ruder Finn, 310.717.3005 (maciejewskir@ruderfinn.com)
Stephanie Rice, Ruder Finn, 310.882.4008 (rices@ruderfinn.com)
|
