Autobytel's AIC Division Launches Enhanced Online Vehicle Viewing Tool for OEMs, Portals and Dealer Groups

AIC Offers High-End Multi-brand Vehicle Imagery at a Mid-Market Price; New Features Include 360-degree Panoramas, Zoom-Ins and OEM Color Swatches

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 1 -- Automotive Information Center(R) (AIC), Autobytel Inc.'s vehicle research and data division, has unveiled AutoGallery Plus(SM), its newly enhanced vehicle viewing tool, filling a market need for a high-quality, mid-priced vehicle image library to power OEM and large dealer group web sites, as well as Internet automotive portals. The new AIC tool helps manufacturers and retailers engage web visitors with crisp, detailed vehicle photography, providing up to 21 interior and exterior shots -- standardized to provide an "apples-to-apples" comparison across brands -- plus 360-degree interior spins, image zoom capabilities, and a complete spectrum of available factory color swatches for each model. AutoGallery Plus is part of AIC's AutoPortrait(SM) suite of photography products and services, which is designed to provide the industry with an attractive balance of photography quality and price point.

"AutoPortrait offers a compelling set of photography services for the automotive market, which is currently split between expensive, time-consuming solutions and inexpensive, low-quality products," said Autobytel Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Donchak. "It's another way that AIC is powering the industry with innovative information marketing solutions that fit the way today's buyers shop." Donchak adds that the latest AIC AutoPortrait enhancements build on a product that provides more than 6,000 images at the year/make/model/level of makes and models produced since 1994, covering 45 domestic and import brands.

The enhanced AutoPortrait is part of a series of recent online vehicle viewing initiatives by AIC. AIC is also providing the photography for DynaMail, a cutting-edge dealership email response program from Autobytel's AVV division. DynaMail will be rolled into AVV's dealership customer management system, WebControl(R), and will enable dealers to automatically respond to each online customer query about a specific car or truck with a personalized email featuring a high-quality AIC photo of that vehicle. "Working with AVV, AIC's AutoPortrait product is making it easy for dealers to use email to present each vehicle in the best possible light - with quality photos for 2004 model vehicles," continued Donchak. "This will be a huge advantage for dealers who wouldn't normally be able to afford photography of this quality - a way to really separate themselves from the pack."

Digital vehicle photography is only one example of how AIC works behind the scenes to power the players that comprise the automotive industry. AIC also provides comprehensive competitive data to OEMs to shape product planning and marketing strategies, as well as a range of leading consumer-facing online research tools. AIC's data and/or technology powers the majority of automaker web sites that feature competitive comparison tools, as well as numerous auto portals, including Yahoo!, MSN and Lycos. Overall, AIC's team of researchers manages up to 3.3 million data points, spanning every new vehicle sold in the US and Canada - providing an accurate, comprehensive snapshot of the current industry landscape, including unfolding automotive trends.

AIC FUN FACT ... Did you know ...

As Americans grow larger, automakers are keeping pace with vehicles that get bigger and heavier with each redesign. Case in point: the new 2004 Nissan Pathfinder Armada, which offers dramatically increased head, shoulder and yes, hip room vs. the relatively petite Pathfinder. 2004 redesigns of the Chevrolet Colorado, Dodge Durango, Ford F-150, and Mitsubishi Galant are examples of similar vehicle "super-sizings," and more are on the way for 2005. And OEMs aren't just providing ample carriage for Americans' fast food-packaged bodies, they're also providing ample carriage for fast food. The new F-150, for example, offers six -- count them, six! -- cupholders, and that's just for the front seat occupants.