Autobytel Expands Ford Relationship with Lincoln/Mercury Vehicle Cross-Comparison Tools
IRVINE, Calif.--Nov. 1, 20037, 2003--| New AIC Tools Let Shoppers Compare Features and Specs Across Brands at Lincolnvehicles.com and Mercuryvehicles.com |
Autobytel Inc. has announced that its vehicle data division, Automotive Information Center (AIC), is powering the recently launched multi-brand vehicle cross-comparison tools at lincolnvehicles.com and mercuryvehicles.com. The AIC solutions are custom-designed to make it fast and easy for online shoppers to evaluate Lincoln and Mercury brands/models/trim levels versus multiple similar competitive brands in terms of pricing, specifications, features and options. The rollout is part of Ford's ongoing mission to provide the 64%(1) of all car-buyers who now research and shop on the Internet with the objective multi-brand vehicle data they demand.
According to Ford, one of the key advantages of the AIC tools is client flexibility. The Lincoln/Mercury cross comparison solutions will be delivered via flexible Extensible Markup Language (XML) schemas. XML, an open format that enables the integration of diverse data, makes it easy and cost-effective for the various Ford divisions to customize the way the AIC data is presented to shoppers in terms of branding, layout, etc.
With the launch of the new AIC tools, Autobytel is expanding its relationship with Lincoln and Mercury's parent company, the Ford Motor Company. Last month, Ford Division launched similar AIC XML cross-comparison solutions at fordvehicles.com, both in English and Spanish.
"Ford has earned tremendous brand loyalty over the years across its brand divisions, but they also understand the needs of today's more feature-driven Net buyers," said Autobytel Inc. Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Donchak. "We're proud to help Ford provide a state-of-the-art multi-brand research environment where shoppers can really drill down and evaluate the advantages of the Lincoln and Mercury model lines versus the competition."
AIC provides automotive data services to the majority of OEMs operating in North America, powering initiatives ranging from internal product planning to consumer marketing/research solutions. AIC's products and programs are built around a comprehensive, continually updated vehicle database featuring up to 500+ data points on every car and truck sold in North America. AIC's best-in-class suite of auto research tools, AutoSuite(TM), and its Spanish-language analog, AutoEspanol(TM), power numerous major Internet portals and OEM Web sites.
About Autobytel Inc.
Autobytel Inc. , a leading Internet automotive marketing services company, helps retailers sell cars and manufacturers build brands through marketing, advertising and CRM (customer relationship management) tools and programs. The company owns and operates the automotive websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com and AutoSite.com, as well as AIC (Automotive Information Center), a leading provider of automotive marketing data and technology. Autobytel is the industry leader in dealership lead management and CRM solutions and owns and operates AVV, Inc., a leading provider of dealership CRM and data extraction services. As the Internet's largest new-car buying service, Autobytel generates over a billion dollars a month in car sales for dealers through its services. Autobytel Inc. is also among the largest syndicated car-buying content networks, reaching millions of unique visitors as they are making their vehicle buying decisions.
(1) JD Power & Associates 2003 New AutoShopper.com Study, October 2003