Ford and Nissan Web Sites Drive OEM Sales Best With Help From Trilogy's Unique Technology, Says Forrester Research

    SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 3 -- A study shows that the design and
functionality of automakers' Web sites can significantly increase or decrease
vehicle test drives and therefore sales, depending on how well the site
performs.
    The study by Forrester Research showed that after using a vehicle
manufacturer's Web site, 30 percent of visitors become more likely to test-
drive a vehicle, while 18 percent become less likely.
    The reason?  Site function failures and design flaws that make sites
difficult to use.  These problems create user frustration that results in
consumers being less likely to test-drive an automaker's products and
ultimately reduces sales.
    According to the Forrester Report, Nissan's site performed "best overall"
and was top in configuration ratings.  The report noted that Nissan's "highly
advanced link-to-locate feature allows comparison of configured vehicles and
located vehicles" -- a feature that clearly pleases online shoppers and leads
to in-person dealer visits.
    Forrester notes that users gave Ford "balanced ease-of-use and content
ratings, top ratings for comprehensive of content, and high ratings for the
FordDirect dealer contact functionality."
    The report continues, "FordVehicles.com offers deep integration with
FordDirect functionality and makes it easy to use.  The end result is that 83
percent of Ford users succeeded at dealer contact -- the top score among all
brands tested."
    The Report also lauded both Nissan and Ford for building strong links
between online configuration capability and dealership inventory visibility to
create a better online shopping experience.  "Ford and Nissan create a
significantly better online experience:  68 percent of Ford users and 66
percent of Nissan users were extremely satisfied or very satisfied while
attempting the dealer contact task online, compared with an average of 36
percent for the other sites tested."
    The Report continues: "Trilogy 'gets' the business -- so it'll get the
business.  These days, almost every software vendor claims industry-specific
expertise -- so it's difficult to differentiate vertical veneer from the real
thing.
    "But our site evaluations revealed that applications built by software
vendor Trilogy -- for example, the FordDirect dealer contact tool and the
Nissan configurator -- outperformed rivals.  Our take: Trilogy's focus on
automotive as one of only four industry verticals it pursues pays off in
better tools -- and more business for Trilogy. "

    About the Report Methodology
    For this Report, Forrester partnered with Vividence to conduct in-depth
usability testing across eight auto manufacturer Web sites.  The 550 consumers
included in the testing panel had all indicated that they were planning on
buying or leasing a new vehicle, with 82 percent planning on doing so within
12 months.  All users tested on their own computers -- with 63 percent of
panelists using a broadband connection.  Data captured by Vividence software
included user clicks; thumbnail images of screens viewed; time spent on tasks;
task failure rates; and responses to specific pre-, post-, and during-
evaluation questions.

    About Trilogy
    Trilogy is one of the world's largest privately held enterprise software
companies.  Trilogy has invested over seven years of development in the
creation of a set of automotive industry-specific software products that are
designed to meet the unique business, scale and performance requirements of
the automotive OEMs.  Trilogy software provides the foundation to better
manage the automotive demand chain (consumer - dealers - OEMs - suppliers)
including retailing, order management, planning and global product data.  This
mature product set provides features addressing the requirements of the
automotive industry and enables faster time-to-market.  Trilogy's automotive
solutions drive the web sites of major automotive brands including Ford,
Jaguar, Lincoln, Mercury, Nissan, Infiniti, Lexus and Renault.

    About FordDirect.com
    FordDirect.com is a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and its Ford
franchised dealers to provide information and online vehicle sales services
directly to consumers.  It is the only dealer-manufacturer partnership in the
industry.  FordDirect allows consumers to choose, customize, locate and
finance new and pre-owned vehicles using fast, secure and easy-to-use Internet
technology.  Launched in August 2000, FordDirect has more than 2,800 member
dealers located in all 50 states.
    FordDirect.com is headquartered in Dearborn, Mich.

    About Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA)
    In North America, NNA's operations include automotive styling,
engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing,
distribution and manufacturing.  More information on NNA and the complete line
of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at http://www.nissannews.com or
by contacting the corporate media line at 310-771-5631.