Hispanics Poised to Shop Online for Cars

    Study Says Over 70% Plan to Use Web to Purchase or Research Next Car;
   Better Car-Buying Experience Anticipated at Independent Online Websites

    IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 23 While only thirty-seven percent of
Hispanic Internet users in the United States have attempted to use online
resources for car shopping, nearly three-quarters say they plan to use the web
to purchase or research their next vehicle, this according to a recent poll by
Roslow Research Group.  The new study of Hispanic automotive website use,
conducted for Autobytel Inc. , also found that fifty percent of
all polled felt they would have a better car-purchasing experience if they
used an independent auto website offering multi-brands and information,
compared to buying a car the usual way.

    In response to these findings, Autobytel today announced that it has begun
a dialogue with the burgeoning Hispanic Internet population to determine what
website resources best meet their needs.  Hispanic visitors to the Autobytel
website will be invited to complete a special online survey, and the company
will immediately provide purchasing instructions in Spanish, and e-mail and
offline customer assistance in Spanish.

    "Over 70 percent of Hispanic Internet users polled in this study said they
plan to use the web in their car purchasing process and 84 percent would be
more likely to do their automotive shopping and research online if they could
do so in Spanish," said Mark Lorimer, President and CEO of Autobytel Inc.
"This is why we feel it is so important to not only provide opportunities on
our site for Hispanic Internet users to start their online automotive
experience in Spanish, but also to survey those users to find out what further
services and resources would be of most interest to them."

    One interesting finding of the Roslow Research Group survey is that if
equally good automotive websites were available in either language, that while
45 percent preferred to use the Spanish version, 30 percent had no preference
and 23 percent preferred the English version.

    "Whether consumers prefer to use Spanish or English to buy a car online,
Autobytel's goal, as always, is to make it easier for every car-buyer to find
and purchase the best car for his or her needs," continued Lorimer.

    Eric Elvira, a Hispanic software manager from Miami, Florida, recently
purchased a Buick through Autobytel.com and said it couldn't have been
simpler.  "I received an e-mail response within an hour after sending my
purchase request and saved $1,000.  This was the best car-buying experience of
my life."

    Hispanics are one of the fastest growing minority segments in America.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Hispanic population has increased
58 percent in the last decade to 35 million people with an estimated buying
power of $630 billion(1).  One out of nine U.S. residents is of Hispanic
origin, and nearly one out of five Florida residents is Hispanic.  Ninety
percent of Hispanics own or lease a car, and 46 percent own a personal
computer(2).

    Fifty-three percent of those surveyed were male and 47 percent female.
Thirty-one percent speak only Spanish at home, 34 percent speak Spanish more
often than English at home, and 35 percent speak Spanish and English equally
at home.

    To participate in Autobytel's online study of Hispanic automotive website
preferences, visit http://www.autobytel.com and click on the en espanol button on the
Autobytel.com homepage.

    Survey Methods

    Results of the survey are based on telephone interviews conducted
August 3-7, 2001 with a randomly selected sample of adults 18 years and older
with Spanish-surnames who defined themselves as "Hispanic" according to the
Census definition, and who speak Spanish at home as much or more than English.
Respondents also must have used the Internet in the past 30 days and have an
email address.

    Interviewing was conducted in five major Hispanic designated market areas
(DMAs) -- Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago and Houston.  These DMAs
encompass approximately 60% of the total U.S. Hispanic population and,
according to Census proportions, provide a close approximation of total
breakdowns by countries-of Hispanic-origins.