Autobytel's Automotive Video for Hot-Off-the-Shelf Video iPods

IRVINE, Calif.--Oct. 2, 20058, 2005--To meet the booming demand for video content to play on Video iPods that hit retailers' shelves last week, Autobytel's CarTV, the Web's leading provider of original automotive rich media, is providing a dedicated Video iPod download center on its popular consumer site, www.cartv.com, as well as Autobytel sites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com and Car.com. By becoming one of the very first companies to provide iPod Video support and free content, CarTV is continuing its mission to utilize emerging technology to entertain and inform automotive consumers while providing parent company Autobytel with new ad revenue and brand-building opportunities.

"We're excited to be among the first wave of content providers for what promises to be a revolutionary media technology," said Autobytel Senior Vice President, Media and Marketing Services Michael Rosenberg. "iPod users are a prime car-buying demographic, and Video iPods are an ideal platform for the dynamic, hands-on automotive content CarTV produces."

Rosenberg adds that in addition to providing breaking automotive news, auto show reports, sports and racing events and how-to-videos in the palm of one's hand, access to CarTV video on an iPod means that consumers can literally watch - and dealers can literally show - a respected third-party video review of a vehicle under a car buyer's consideration right on the dealer's lot.

CarTV's initial menu of downloadable Video iPod content includes expert third-party new vehicle reviews, step-by-step car maintenance tips, and a weekly automotive news program covering late-breaking industry announcements, trends and issues. Next week, CarTV will also provide Video iPod users with daily coverage of the SEMA show in Las Vegas, the world's premier auto specialty parts exposition (and a hot-ticket event for young urban "tuners," or car customizers).

Moving forward, CarTV will continue to convert its library of original automotive video content for Video iPod usage while developing new content and automotive ad platforms focused on the largely young, affluent Video iPod market. Visitors to CarTV.com have viewed more than 121,000 hours of car commercials and original CarTV content (including reviews, editorial features, interviews and auto event coverage) so far in 2005, making the site one of the leading providers of automotive rich media on the Web.

About Autobytel Inc.

Autobytel Inc. , a leading Internet automotive marketing services company, helps retailers sell cars and manufacturers build brands through marketing, advertising, data and CRM (customer relationship management) products and programs. The Company owns and operates the automotive websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com, Car.com, AutoSite.com, Autoahorros.com, and CarTV.com, as well as AIC (Automotive Information Center), a trusted industry source of automotive marketing data and technology for over 20 years. Autobytel is also a leader in dealership lead management and CRM solutions and owns and operates AVV, Inc., a top provider of dealership CRM and sales management products, and Retention Performance Marketing, Inc., (RPM(R)), which powers dealerships with cutting-edge customer loyalty and retention marketing programs. Autobytel was the most visited new car buying and research destination in 2004, reaching millions of car shoppers as they made their vehicle buying decisions. Autobytel Inc. is the only company to achieve top rankings for both its lead management and lead generation services among the nation's top 100 Internet dealers.