Digital Motorworks Supports Automotive E-Commerce Initiatives

    AUSTIN, Texas, June 5 Ninety-five of the nation's top 100
automotive e-dealers receive online data to support their e-business
initiatives through technology solutions provided by Austin-based Digital
Motorworks (DMi) to its customers, according to the company's CEO Ron Hardy.
    DMi's InfoIQ service, formerly known as AutoLoad, provides accurate,
comprehensive and timely information to support the e-business programs of
OEMs, major automotive dealer groups and independent portals, Hardy noted.
    "DMi solutions collect data from over 9,000 dealerships on a daily basis
in order to provide accurate, up-to-date inventory, sales, service and
warranty information to its customers," he said.  "Ninety-five of the top 100
e-dealers as ranked by Ward's Dealer Business magazine are among those 9,000
dealerships."
    The data DMi helps collect is used by OEMs, independent portals such as
Cars.com, and the e-business applications of major dealer groups such as
AutoNation to improve the car-buying experience of thousands of consumers
every day, the DMi executive added.
    "The success of AutoNation's online initiatives depends greatly on the
quality of the data that powers them," said Allan Stejskal, senior vice
president of e-commerce at AutoNation.  "Thanks to Digital Motorworks, we can
deliver real cars in real time to our customers."
    Created to recognize innovative dealers who are using the Internet to
facilitate auto sales, Ward's e-Dealer 100 list ranks dealers based on the
number of units sold through the Internet.  The list defines an Internet sale
as one in which a customer initiates contact with a dealership online and an
Internet staff member handles the subsequent sale.  The Ward's list is the
first independent, industry-wide effort of its kind.
    Mr. Hardy noted that the Internet is playing an increasingly important
role in the car buying experience.  In 1998, 25% of new vehicle buyers used
the Internet for information gathering.  By 2003, that number is expected to
reach 73%.

    About Digital Motorworks:
    Digital Motorworks provides e-business information management solutions
for a variety of automotive companies, including OEMs, major dealer groups and
portals.  Offered through an application service provider (ASP) model, the
company's InfoIQ service collects, enhances and delivers business information
in support of inventory management, customer relationship and decision support
initiatives.  Customers include market leaders such as Ford Motor Company,
General Motors, Cars.com, AutoNation and Aon Corporation.  A profitable
company, Digital Motorworks employs 100 people in its Austin, Texas
headquarters and Chicago and Melbourne, Australia offices.  For more
information, visit http://www.digitalmotorworks.com .

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