The Cobalt Group Launches Parts Counter Express 2.0 to Help Car Dealers Sell Parts Online; Dealers Now Able to Sell from a Comprehensive Online Parts and Accessories Catalog

    SEATTLE--Feb. 3, 2003--The Cobalt Group, the leading provider of e-business software and services to the automotive retail market, today announced the launch of Parts Counter Express 2.0, a major upgrade to the popular e-business product that helps hundreds of dealership parts departments market and sell their collision and mechanical parts and accessories online.
    Parts Counter Express 2.0 provides parts managers with a dealership-branded parts catalog and inventory management tool for their Web sites, enabling them to sell their OEM parts directly to wholesale and retail customers. The new application is powered by an extensive catalog of more than 5 million mechanical and collision parts that provides detailed parts information and links to dealer inventory.
    "For customers, Parts Counter Express 2.0 makes it easier than ever to check parts inventory status and order parts without having to call the dealership," said Kevin Distelhorst, Vice President of Parts Works for The Cobalt Group. "The bottom line for dealers is that Parts Counter Express 2.0 saves them time and money by enabling them to offer their full range of mechanical and collision parts inventory on their own dealer sites, easily create featured offers, and add parts to their catalog."
    Parts Counter Express 2.0 consists of three integrated modules that work together to create more powerful online parts applications for dealership Web sites:

    Parts Store: This new feature makes it possible for parts managers to create an online store in the parts section of their dealer Web sites.

    Online Parts Catalog: With the addition of collision parts from Mitchell International in Parts Counter Express 2.0, the online catalog now meets the needs of all of a dealer's wholesale parts buyers. Buyers may research parts by year, make and model, search the dealer's parts inventory and order parts directly from the dealer's Web site.

    Catalog Manager: Using Catalog Manager, parts managers can create and add parts and accessories to their online catalog and to the specials section of their Parts Store.

    Wholesale parts buyers, including dealers, collision shops, independent repair shops, do-it-yourselfers, and insurance companies can find the parts they need in the online catalog, check inventory status, and submit the order directly to the dealership through Parts Counter Express' user-friendly search interface. Parts Counter Express is a key component of the integrated Parts Works suite of parts marketing and inventory management tools and services created to help dealers and repair shops build a more efficient and profitable parts business. Dealerships can subscribe to Parts Works and order Parts Counter Express 2.0 by contacting a Cobalt sales consultant by phone at 800/909-8244.

    About The Cobalt Group

    The Cobalt Group works exclusively in the automotive retail market to help manufacturers and dealers develop integrated e-business programs by leveraging its industry leading technology, broad range of services and deep domain knowledge. As the automotive e-business leader, Cobalt is uniquely positioned to help its customers maximize their overall operating efficiencies and profits.
    Cobalt offers a broad range of products and services developed specifically for the automotive marketplace including enterprise software for manufacturers and dealers; customer relationship management (CRM) software applications; online automotive commerce applications; the industry's largest OEM parts locating and marketing service; and dealership e-business best practices training, consulting, and process compliance analysis.
    Cobalt operates a dealer network larger than any other technology provider in the automotive retail industry including 12,000 franchised dealers and more than 70 of the 100 largest dealer groups. Cobalt is the only software technology provider ever endorsed by 17 manufacturers and the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).
    With headquarters in Seattle, Wash., Cobalt has offices in several major U.S. cities, and a field sales and services force in 30 states, including all major U.S. metropolitan sales areas (MSAs).
    For more information, please visit www.cobaltgroup.com or call 800/909-8244.