America Online Launches New Autos Channel; Expanded Offerings Include Enhanced Local Resources and New Content from Autofusion, Consumer Reports and Edmunds.com
DULLES, Va.--Aug. 20, 2001--
Web's Most Convenient Resource for Researching, Buying, Selling, and
Maintaining Cars is Now Also Available on Netscape, CompuServe and
AOL.COM
AOL Autos Announces Contest To Win a Trip to the 2002 NASCAR Winston
Cup Race in Daytona
America Online, the world's leading interactive services company, today announced the launch of a new Autos Channel, with enhanced local resources, an easier to use interface and new content from three leading online automotive and information sites. These new features build upon previous versions of the Autos Channel and provide AOL members with the Internet's most comprehensive and convenient destination to buy, sell and maintain a car. The new Autos Channel will be available on the AOL flagship service as well as Netscape, CompuServe and AOL.COM.
Researching automobile purchases and sales is one of the most popular activities in the world of online commerce. According to a recent Forrester Research study, approximately 60 percent of U.S. car shoppers educate themselves online before visiting dealerships. The new AOL Autos Channel will tap into that growing interest by offering AOL members such valuable services as:
| -- | Localization: To make the process of car shopping more convenient, the Autos Channel features a "Local Resources" center on most pages with direct links to local dealers, a local dealer locator, and hot local deals exclusively for AOL members; |
| -- | Car Comparison: To help AOL members get the best value, "Compare and Decide" allows them to compare different models of new and used cars and a decision guide that through a series of questions will create a list of ideal cars; |
| -- | Streamlined Sales: To help streamline the online car selling process, a new "Sell Your Car" section offers all the resources needed to get the best price for your car through AOL's agreement with AutoTrader.com, the leading online automotive classifieds company in the U.S.; |
| -- | Community: To help car lovers connect, Talk About Cars is an enhanced communication section for car enthusiasts with content from leading auto sites, message boards and chats; |
Jonathan Sacks, President of AOL, said: "The new Autos Channel gives our members a completely new online automotive experience with features that make buying, selling and maintaining a car simpler, easier and more fun than ever before. It is a great resource for making what is often one of the most frustrating tasks in life more convenient. Our members can turn to the Autos Channel to get accurate information on the true cost of cars, learn about the options they want, and read reviews of new and used cars, all before they go to any dealership."
Other enhancements to the Autos Channel include:
-- A new simple, easy-to-use design, with direct access to the
channel's features and resources. This design offers more
simple navigation and a better experience for consumers.
-- A new Autos homepage with one-click access to the type of car
you want;
-- A monthly Autos Newsletter that includes recall notices,
preview of new models, AOL member hot deals and new content,
and;
-- Dynamic, new rich media showcases, including 3-D views and
streaming video.
New Content Offerings Expand the Channel's Resources
America Online also announced new content offerings from three leading online automotive and information destinations, Autofusion, Consumer Reports and Edmunds.com. These new resources greatly expand the channel's resources in the following ways:
-- Through an agreement with Autofusion, a leading provider of
products and services for automotive e-commerce, the Autos
Channel now offers Build-A-Car, which will allow AOL members
to build, research, compare, save and retrieve information on
individual cars. Specifically, they can match their needs and
preferences with specific car makes, models, and options, and
compare up to four autos for side-by-side comparison.
-- A greatly expanded Buying Basics section now offers extensive
content from Consumer Reports, including top picks, feature
articles, warranty comparisons, advice on safety features and
information on car electronics. AOL members may also access
premium reports like auto recommendations, safety ratings,
information on new products, product specifications, and
buying and selling new and used cars.
-- The Autos Channel has created a completely new car book value
section featuring content from Edmunds.com. Members can now
access Edmunds.com's True Market Value tools, that provide new
and used vehicle buyers and sellers the current average
transaction price for a vehicle in a particular market.
Members can also access Edmunds.com's True Market Value
Finance Rate Estimator that provides consumers with
personalized automotive direct lending finance rates based on
the area in which they live. Additionally the Autos Channel
will feature Edmunds.com's product reviews on all
makes/models, as well as other editorial content for upcoming
features, such as Exotic cars.
Win a trip to the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup race in Daytona Beach, Florida
In celebration of the new Autos Channel, the company also announced the AOL Autos Hit the Pits Sweepstakes, where one lucky winner will receive an all expense paid trip to the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup race in Daytona Beach, Florida. People can enter through email or visit the NASCAR.com trailer at one of the following NASCAR Winston Cup races:
-- August 24-26 at the Sharpie 500/Bristol Motor Speedway in
Bristol, Tennessee
-- September 7-9 at the Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 with the Looney
Tunes/ Richmond International in Richmond, Virginia,
-- October 7-8 at the UAW-GM Quality 500 / Lowe's Motor Speedway
in Charlotte, North Carolina.
America Online will randomly select a winner on October 11.
About America Online, Inc.
America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL Time Warner Inc. . Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.