Honda Ranks No. 1 Among Online Auto Shoppers
PORTLAND, Ore.--Jan. 3, 2002--Chrome Systems Corporation, provider of automotive data, configuration technology and commerce solutions, announced today the Chrome Top 10(TM), national and regional rankings of the most popular vehicles researched online, for the last quarter of 2001.
Honda tops the list nationwide with the Civic, Accord and Odyssey
claiming the top three slots.
Chrome Top 10(TM) Nationwide
Make Model
1 Honda Civic
2 Honda Accord
3 Honda Odyssey
4 Nissan Altima
5 Toyota Camry
6 BMW 3-Series
7 Ford Escape
8 Honda CR-V
9 Toyota Tacoma
10 Hyundai Santa Fe
Online Shopper's Favorite Vehicle by City
Metro Area Make Model
Atlanta, GA Honda Accord
Boston, MA Honda Odyssey
Chicago, IL BMW 3-Series
Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX Honda Accord
Detroit, MI Ford Focus
Los Angeles, CA Honda Civic
New York, NY Nissan Altima
Philadelphia, PA Nissan Altima
San Francisco, CA Honda Civic
Washington, DC Honda Accord
The Chrome Top 10(TM) rankings are compiled from vehicle configurations captured through Chrome's Web-based configuration and pricing tool, Chrome Carbook(TM), which is accessible from more than 1,500 websites, including Chevrolet.com.
The configuration data captured on Chrome's web servers shows the multitude of vehicle configurations consumers are researching, as well as where those consumers are located. It also enables manufacturers to see the color and option preferences online shoppers are configuring and comparing.
Information about which vehicles and what options consumers are interested in by geographic region is valuable to several different departments within a manufacturer. The Marketing department can create better-targeted ad campaigns based on regional preferences. Dealer relations departments and dealers will be able to allocate vehicles where the vehicles will sell faster. Brand managers will know what's selling best and where. Retailers would be able to respond more rapidly to consumer demand. And consumers would get exactly what they want and in less time. This store of real-time consumer demand information benefits manufacturers by providing them with the visibility they need to more accurately forecast, and to match regional supply with regional demand.
``The automotive industry has been very focused on supply-chain planning and demand management is an integral part of it all,'' said David Mingle, Chrome COO. ``In today's economy, access to real-time demand information is extremely important. Auto manufacturers need the ability to recognize fluctuations in consumer demand.''
Chrome: Most Accurate Data Provider
In April 2001, CNW Marketing/Research conducted its second annual online vehicle pricing accuracy study, evaluating ten online new-vehicle pricing websites on pricing accuracy and orderability. For the second year in a row Chrome ranked first in accurate vehicle pricing and 100% orderable configuration.
About Chrome
With more than 12,000 clients, including half of all automotive
dealers in the U.S. and Canada, Chrome provides vehicle content,
configuration technology, software and professional services to
deliver complete enterprise solutions for all segments of the retail
automotive industry, including manufacturers, fleet companies, dealers
and Internet sites. With PC Carbook®, Chrome pioneered the
technology behind electronic vehicle configuration. For more than 15
years the company has collected, analyzed and enhanced ``raw''
automotive data from all manufacturers. Chrome provides the North
American ordering system for General Motors, branded as GM AutoBook,
and its 8,300 dealers. Chrome sets the standard in ordering systems
for fleet management, serving 15 of the 17 largest fleet leasing
companies. The company is based in Portland, Oregon. For more
information, contact www.chrome.com, 800/936-8906.