FordDirect, AutoTrader.com Form Partnership...They're Still Searching!Just Build Good Cars Ford...Leave The Sales to Dealers.

FordDirect, AutoTrader.com Form Partnership To Expand Listings and Customer Choices

First-of-its-Kind to Integrate Both New and Used Inventories on One Site

ATLANTA and DEARBORN, Mich., July 10, 2001: FordDirect, the joint venture between participating Ford dealers and Ford Motor Company , today announced that it has selected AutoTrader.com , the leading Internet auto classifieds destination and marketplace in the United States, to power FordDirect.com's Used Vehicle Search Platform.

FordDirect's selection of AutoTrader.com will enable the typical participating dealer to at least double the volume of online offerings from what is now available. Customers will see the dealers' inventories expanded beyond the new Ford vehicles already online to include used cars and trucks available for retail sale.

These used vehicles will also be made available on AutoTrader.com, which will expand the online reach of each FordDirect dealer who chooses to participate in the new service. AutoTrader.com generates 5 million unique visitors a month and is the top used car site in the world.

FordDirect will also be linked directly into AutoTrader.com's New Car Marketplace, which will allow customers to locate and make selections from the new car and truck inventories of participating FordDirect dealers.

"This is an enormous breakthrough for Ford dealers," said Devon Cohen, CEO of FordDirect. "With AutoTrader.com, FordDirect has not only joined with the best in the business, but we have also quickly and effectively expanded our reach into the all-important used car market. With 40-45 million used car sales a year in the U.S., the potential is huge," Cohen said.

FordDirect customers will see the present selection of new Ford cars and trucks expanded to include the used car and truck offerings of participating dealers.

New-vehicle shoppers on AutoTrader.com can select from the same offerings as a FordDirect customer, while used-vehicle shoppers will see their access expanded to include the inventories of participating FordDirect dealers.

For dealers, the FordDirect used car program offers several important benefits. First, Ford dealers will be able to conveniently place their entire used vehicle inventory in front of millions of qualified car shoppers who visit FordDirect every month. Second, this program will help Ford dealers enhance their marketing efforts while improving the overall customer experience with their dealerships.

"Ford cars and trucks are among the top searched vehicles on AutoTrader.com," said Chip Perry, president and CEO of AutoTrader.com. "Our partnership with FordDirect will be an excellent way to enhance our new car marketplace with one of the most popular brands that consumers are requesting, as well as supporting FordDirect dealers by having their used car inventories available on both FordDirect and AutoTrader.com. It's a win-win situation, providing an entirely new dimension to both sites, with greater selection of new and used vehicles."

AutoTrader.com will maintain the used car inventories and supply technology to the venture, allowing all Ford dealers to participate in FordDirect's used car program.

"We chose to partner with AutoTrader.com because of a proven track record among dealers and consumers. It is no accident that AutoTrader.com has become the top site for used cars," Cohen said. "This partnership provides Ford dealers with added exposure and sales leads from AutoTrader.com's far-reaching monthly user base. Just as important, it will generate even more traffic to FordDirect because used car sales are a significant portion of every dealer's business," he added.

Today, more than half of auto shoppers are researching vehicles online, according to J.D. Power and Associates, and AutoTrader.com has been ranked the number one source for used car sales online.

AutoTrader.com is increasingly being used as a resource for new-car consumers and was ranked among the top ten by J.D. Power. AutoTrader.com receives more than 5 million unique monthly visitors, conducting more than 2.5 million monthly searches for Ford cars and trucks.

FordDirect now operates in 21 states, which taken together, represent more than 70 percent of Ford Division's total new car and truck sales volume in the U.S. A national roll-out is under way and is expected to be completed in 2002.

About AutoTrader.com

AutoTrader.com is the Internet's largest auto classifieds marketplace and a comprehensive main source for consumers interested in buying or selling a new or used vehicle, or seeking information on price comparisons, safety tips, financing, insurance or warranty information. Through its strategic alliances with Manheim Auctions, Trader Publishing Company, ADP, Inc., America Online and eBay, AutoTrader.com aggregates in a single location a comprehensive database of 1.5 million vehicle listings from 40,000 dealers and 250,000 private owners, which provide consumers the largest selection of used vehicles in their local market.

AutoTrader.com was created in 1997 and is a majority-owned subsidiary of Manheim Auctions, Inc., the world's largest operator of wholesale auto auctions since 1945. Manheim Auctions, a wholly owned subsidiary of media conglomerate Cox Enterprises, Inc., is AutoTrader.com's principal stockholder and a key investor along with Landmark Communications, ADP, Inc., eBay, Inc, and the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. For more information, visit http://www.autotrader.com or call 404-269-7359.

About FordDirect

FordDirect.com is a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and its Ford Division dealers to bring online sales of cars and trucks directly to consumers. Launched in August 2000, FordDirect began operations in December in New Jersey and has since expanded on a state-by-state basis to include 21 states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. Taken together, these states represent about 70 percent of Ford Division's annual car and truck sales volume in the U.S. Bill Keith, dealer- principal of Freehold Ford in New Jersey is chairman of the board of directors, Devon Cohen is the chief executive, and David Kain, a former dealer from Versailles, Ky., is chief operating officer. Offices are based in Dearborn, Mich.