Manheim Auctions Invests More than $50 Million in Technology

8 February 1999
Manheim Auctions Invests More than $50 Million in Technology Initiatives to Help Dealers Succeed Online
    Largest Auction Company's Technology Services and Technology Managers
          Enables Dealers to Sell More Cars While Driving Down Costs

    ATLANTA, Feb. 8 -- Manheim Auctions Inc., the world's largest
operator of wholesale automotive auctions, Saturday announced during a press
conference at NADA it invested more than $50 million in 1998 to help dealers
succeed online.  Through its wide array of technology services, including
Manheim Online(TM), AutoConnect(SM) and TrackerPlus(TM) and its technology
manager program, Manheim is giving dealers the tools and technology they need
to sell more cars and increase profits for their dealerships.  Manheim plans
to continue this strong commitment through development of innovative and
useful technology offerings, including a new Manheim Online desktop product to
be introduced later this year.

    Editor's Summary

    -- Manheim Auctions announced Saturday it invested more than $50 million
       in technology products and services during 1998.  These include
       AutoConnect, Manheim Online, TrackerPlus, Manheim Market Report and the
       technology manager program.

    -- Manheim's ongoing commitment to technology innovation is aimed at
       helping dealers leverage the Internet as a new channel for increasing
       vehicle sales.  The company also provides support services and software
       to help dealers manage their businesses more effectively.

    -- In the upcoming year, Manheim will continue to develop new technology
       tools and programs, including the planned introduction of a new MOL
       desktop product.

    "Manheim's current focus on Internet technology is the next logical
evolution in our 50-year tradition of helping dealers succeed," said Dennis
Berry, CEO of Manheim Auctions.  "Electronic commerce demands specific skills,
business strategies and tools that are foreign to many dealers.  We want to
make the transition online as painless as possible, so we're continually
developing new services and technologies to bring dealers up to speed in the
Internet arena."
    The most recent enhancement to the company's multi-million-dollar program
for helping dealers succeed online is the technology manager program.  Manheim
has placed a technology expert at each auction site as a liaison between the
company and the dealer.  To help technology managers support and train
dealers, Manheim has created auction-based Technology Centers for instruction,
demonstrations and troubleshooting.  In addition, tech managers are supervised
by regional managers who provide seminars, continuing education and on-site
support at dealerships.
    Manheim's other key technology services include AutoConnect, the
Internet's largest pre-owned automobile listing site, Tracker Plus, an
automotive dealership management software system, Manheim Online, a
24x7 Internet extension to physical auctions; and Manheim Market Report, the
industry's only full pricing system for used cars.
    "Manheim is constantly creating new ways to help dealers take advantage of
technologies like the Internet that are essential to our future success," said
Ken Strauss, General Manager, Consumer Auto Rental and Sales.  "This industry
can see the benefits of electronic commerce, dealership management software
and online marketing, but we need support in learning this new technology.
Manheim makes it convenient, easy and even fun to become Web-savvy."

    Manheim's Technology Offerings Meet Key Dealer Needs
    In addition to the Technology Manager program, Manheim offers a number of
services that have proved highly popular with dealers.

    -- AutoConnect:  This Web site offers consumers a wealth of information on
       pre-owned vehicles, and provides manufacturers and dealers with the
       most cost-effective and convenient way to reach qualified, informed
       buyers via free listings, advertising and Web site links.  Then
       AutoConnect supports these offerings with smart, intuitive site
       management tools, advertising and a variety of training programs.

    -- Manheim Online:  An extended service of Manheim Auctions, Manheim
       Online (MOL) is the leader in auto-related electronic commerce.  The
       service enables subscribing dealers to purchase pre-owned vehicles from
       manufacturers and remarketers online via the MOL Cyberlot site.  MOL
       also prepares dealers with research tools before attending their next
       physical auction.

    -- Manheim Market Report (MMR):  The MMR is the industry's only wholesale
       pricing system.  It is based exclusively on millions of Manheim
       Auctions transactions.  Unlike a price guide, its values are purely
       numbers-based, with no editorial bias.  MMR provides the market value
       of every type (make, model and style) of vehicle sold at a Manheim
       auction during a given week, enabling dealers to evaluate trade-ins and
       anticipate auction prices.

    -- Tracker Plus:  This automotive dealership management software enables
       dealers to track inventory, conduct retail sales, run a finance
       operation, run credit bureau reports, arrange insurance and view
       auction account information.  In addition to links to AutoConnect, MMR,
       MOL, credit bureau services, Black Book pricing guides and Carfax
       Vehicle History Service, Tracker Plus allows dealers to reserve a place
       in auction lanes from their desktops with its Lanes Online feature.

    About Manheim Auctions
    Founded in 1945, Manheim Auctions, Inc., (http://www.manheim.com) is the
world's largest operator of wholesale automobile auctions with 83 locations in
North America, the United Kingdom and France.  In 1998, Manheim offered for
sale more than 6.5 million vehicles.  The actual value of vehicles sold was in
excess of $35 billion.  Manheim is a leader in automotive Internet commerce as
a supplier of web sites and transaction services to auto remarketers.  In
1998, the value of vehicles sold via Manheim's wholesale CyberLots totaled
more than $216 million.  Manheim also provides vehicle reconditioning and
certification, an Internet-based vehicle value guide, dealer floor plan
financing, dealer business software and government auction services.  Manheim
is a partner with the Dealer Services Division of Automatic Data Processing
(ADP), offering free Internet used car listings to dealers and consumers via
AutoConnect, the world's largest source of used car classified advertising
(http://www.autoconnect.com).
    Manheim is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc.  In addition to Manheim,
Cox includes Cox Newspapers, Inc., Cox Broadcasting, Inc., and publicly traded
Cox Communications, Inc. and Cox Radio, Inc.  Cox Enterprises also provides
online news, information and entertainment services via the Internet through
Cox Interactive Media.