CarsDirect Accelerates Expansion with Launch of CarsDirect Classified Listings
LOS ANGELES--July 18, 2002--CarsDirect.com, the leading multi-brand online car buying service, today announced the debut of CarsDirect Classified Listings, the latest addition to its unique brand of new and used car buying options. CarsDirect Classified Listings significantly expands CarsDirect.com's Used Car channel by giving private vehicle owners an inexpensive, no-hassle route for reaching serious car shoppers from their local area and around the country. At the same time, the new service will increase the range of used vehicle choices for the millions of customers who visit CarsDirect.com each month to research, compare, price and purchase a previously owned car.
Fully supported by powerful consumer research and shopping tools that make finding the right used car quick and convenient, CarsDirect Classified Listings are seamlessly integrated with the CarsDirect Used Car Channel's existing inventory of premium dealer owned used vehicles. Every privately placed listing is showcased in the "Premium" listings section, alongside the finest certified used and late-model vehicle choices from local dealers.
"Like our new car buyers, used car shoppers are extremely serious about convenience, choice and the ability to save time and money," said Bob Brisco, CEO, CarsDirect.com. "With the introduction of CarsDirect Classified Listings, we are responding to what today's automotive consumer wants -- a one-stop online marketplace where buyers find exactly the used car they want and sellers can reach a large number of qualified buyers, fast."
A recent study conducted by Accenture echoes this consumer sentiment. According to the study, shoppers who chose the Internet over traditional in-store shopping cited time savings and convenience as the two top reasons for buying online, with more competitive pricing and one-stop shopping following in third and fourth place.
One Low Price and No Time Limits
CarsDirect.com designed its new Classified Listings with the same deep commitment to customer convenience that it applies to each of its new and used car buying services. As a result, customers who choose to sell through CarsDirect.com pay only a one-time low fee of $25.00 to introduce their vehicle to the millions of shoppers who visit the CarsDirect.com site each month. In addition to including vehicle data, a description and contact information, owners can also upload a color photo of their vehicle at no additional charge.
CarsDirect Classified listings go beyond what is offered by traditional print classifieds. Used car print ads often have limited geographic reach, cost significantly more, require frequent renewal and are generally based on a text-only description.
Powerful Selection Tools and Prominent Listing Placement
The Used Car Channel's easy-to-use and powerful selection, pricing and comparison tools help shoppers sort through available choices to find the used vehicle that meets their needs. For example, for shoppers who are still deciding what type of used vehicle might best match their budget, CarsDirect.com provides the convenience of instantly collecting all appropriate used car listings that fall within the customer-specified price range. With just one click of the mouse, CarsDirect.com delivers a comprehensive results page that includes all vehicle makes, models and model years currently for sale by both dealers and private owners.
CarsDirect Classified Listings are showcased in a prominent position on the results page. This valuable benefit ensures that private listings get maximum exposure -- critical for sellers who want fast results and for buyers who want to compare prices between same make and model year cars.
About CarsDirect.com
Los Angeles-based CarsDirect.com (www.carsdirect.com) is the leading multi-brand online car buying service, providing new and used automobiles and related products and services, such as loan and lease financing and in-demand aftermarket products including extended warranties. CarsDirect.com is the first online car provider to offer visitors three distinctive car buying options: buying a new car online through the company's award-winning direct channel; being matched with a top-quality new car dealer of their choice via the CarsDirect Connect channel; or locating and purchasing a previously owned vehicle through the CarsDirect Used channel.
CarsDirect.com has been named one of the "50 Best Websites" by Time Magazine, chosen a "Forbes Favorite" three times by Forbes Magazine, selected as a "Gold Star Site" by Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine, and received the highest ranking for an online car buying site from SmartMoney Magazine. Technology experts at PC Magazine, PC World Magazine and PC Computing have also recognized CarsDirect.com as a leading e-commerce website since its inception in May 1999.
