New Lexus Dealer E-Business Program Puts Dealers in the Driver's Seat
SEATTLE--Oct. 1, 2001--The Cobalt Group , a leading provider of e-business products and services to the automotive industry, announced today the launch of an all-new e-business program for Lexus that gives Lexus dealers powerful tools to create and manage their Lexus endorsed Web sites.
Cobalt developed the advanced e-business tools to give Lexus dealers more flexibility and control over their Web sites while at the same time to provide consistent brand identity for Lexus across its dealer network and ensure a seamless consumer shopping experience between Lexus.com and the Lexus dealer sites.
A key component of the new Lexus dealer e-business program is eDealer Site Manager, a powerful application that allows Lexus dealers to manage their Web sites in real-time. eDealer Site Manager enables dealers to edit copy and meta tags, change images, and customize e-mail forms on key areas of their sites and then publish those changes instantly from their desktops. eDealer Site Manager also makes it possible for dealers to enhance their online vehicle listings and display up to two vehicle photos on the revamped Lexus pre-owned vehicle search section. Lexus is the first manufacturer to utilize this powerful tool, marking the first time in the automotive industry that dealers have been able to make real-time changes directly to their sites.
"The Lexus dealer e-business program builds the Lexus presence online in two important ways. It enhances the customer experience by offering expanded features and a more seamless transition between Lexus.com and dealer Web sites. And by giving dealers powerful tools to manage their Web site content and design, customers can gain a better idea about the unique value proposition and offerings of each Lexus dealership," said Robin Pisz, Lexus national interactive manager. "We are particularly pleased to continue our partnership with The Cobalt Group -- together we've brought Lexus dealers a series of exciting innovations since we started working together in 1996 and we're pleased to be the first manufacturer to implement Cobalt's eDealer Site Manager."
"eDealer Site Manager is the direct result of the input we received from Lexus and Lexus dealers," said Terry Smail, executive vice president of sales and account services for The Cobalt Group. "Lexus dealers understand that Lexus.com is an increasingly valuable source of high-quality leads, but they also want the ability to customize their online presence. eDealer Site Manager provides dealers with advanced content management tools and an impressive range of customizable features that have never been available to the industry before, giving Lexus dealers flexibility and creativity over their Web presence and a competitive advantage."
The Lexus dealer e-business program offers dealers all of the tools they need to effectively manage their e-businesses, including Cobalt's Lead Manager customer and prospect relationship management (CRM) application, Cobalt's AutoShow online inventory management product, Cobalt's Traffic Reporter product to measure their site's effectiveness, as well as all-new innovative design options to give dealers the ability to differentiate their stores while maintaining Lexus brand identity. The program also features promotional graphics, rotating home page billboards, side-by-side vehicle comparisons and expanded search parameters for Lexus certified pre-owned vehicles.
Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., markets and sells luxury cars and sport utility vehicles through its 194 dealers in the United States. Since its inception in 1989, Lexus has earned a reputation for providing the best in vehicle quality, service and customer satisfaction. As a result, Lexus is the top-selling luxury nameplate in the United States and its vehicles and dealers have received many honors. It is headquartered in Torrance, Calif. Cobalt has been the sole endorsed provider of e-business products and services to Lexus dealers since 1996.
About The Cobalt Group
The Cobalt Group(TM) , headquartered in Seattle, is a leading provider of e-business products and services that help automotive dealers and manufacturers effectively manage their businesses online. Cobalt's suite of e-business solutions includes Web services, Web site hosting, e-commerce applications, Internet-based customer relationship management applications, data management, and best practices training and consulting.
Nearly half of the nation's auto dealers use Cobalt's technology, including 8,900 Web services clients, and approximately 9,000 PartsVoice(R) (www.partsvoice.com) clients. Cobalt's e-business products and services are endorsed by 14 automotive manufacturers and more than 50 of the 100 largest dealer groups in the United States. Cobalt is the only e-business provider endorsed by the National Automobile Dealers Association.
Cobalt operates MotorPlace.com(TM) (www.MotorPlace.com), an online business management and industry information resource for auto dealers. At MotorPlace.com, dealers utilize Cobalt tools to manage their Web sites, buy wholesale used vehicles through MotorPlace Auto Exchange, locate and market OEM parts through PartsVoice, purchase leads through Pick-or-Pass, and access industry information, news, events, and stock quotes. Cobalt also operates DealerNet(R) (www.dealernet.com), one of the most widely visited consumer automotive information portals on the Web. IntegraLink Corporation, a Cobalt company, is the auto industry's premier provider of automotive data collection and reporting services. Cobalt has offices in Seattle, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; Detroit, Mich.; Columbus, Ohio; and Austin, Texas.
