Buick Wrongly Claims Auto Channel's Title to First Internet Car Debut

12/02/96

In a press release sent out through PR Newswire and picked up by cyber indexes and news services like Yahoo and NewsPage, General Motors' Buick division mistakenly lays claim to what it calls "the first" car introduction on the Internet.

"They simply didn't do their research," said Robert Gordon, President of The Auto Channel, Inc. "The Auto Channel hosted the cyber introduction of Jaguar's XK8 two months ago. Buick is behind the times."

In point of fact, Buick's Internet introduction of the 1997-1/2 Regal is slated for December 3, 1997, two months to the day since The Auto Channel cybercast the unveiling of the Jaguar XK8 live across the Internet on October 3.

In his press release, Buick Regal Brand Manager Roger W. Adams claims that Buick "developed a state-of-the-art approach to Internet marketing and advertising" specifically for the introduction of their new car. Gordon sees it differently, however.

"Everything they're doing--the sound streaming, the video clips, and photographic presentation--we did the same with Jaguar. After all," says Gordon, "we're experts at it. We've been cybercasting important auto world events since we made history with our live cybercast of last season's Indy 500. We started the ball rolling and have consistently delivered high-tech coverage of events that matter to computer-smart auto enthusiasts ever since. Our cybercast credits include the Indy 500, the Brickyard 400, the unveiling of the Jaguar, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the SEMA/APAA Trade shows, just to name a few."

Click here to see The Auto Channel's Cyber Coverage of the Unveiling of the Jaguar XK8

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel