Mitsubishi Taps Autobytel's RPM(SM) to Power Diamond Care Service Marketing Program

RPM Program to Help Mitsubishi Build Brand Loyalty at Local Dealerships With Personalized, Timely Service Reminders and Individual Web Pages for Each Service Customer

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 17 -- Autobytel Inc.'s innovative service customer retention program, Retention Performance Marketing (RPM), has been selected by Mitsubishi Motors of North America, Inc. as an approved program to power the new Diamond Care Service Marketing Program, an aggressive nationwide initiative to build brand loyalty at local dealerships. RPM, which provides timely customer service reminders (via email, phone and direct mail) and personalized service customer web pages on dealership sites, is a key component in Mitsubishi's dealership service customer retention strategy. By subscribing to Autobytel's RPM program, Mitsubishi's approximately 650 dealers nationwide will be meeting a key criterion for Mitsubishi Diamond Quality Management Certification. Mitsubishi Diamond Quality Management Certification is a coveted distinction that factors in excellence in all areas of dealership operations, including parts, service and sales.

"A great dealership service experience -- and, in turn, a great vehicle ownership experience -- isn't just good for the dealership, it builds loyalty for the brand as well," said Joe Currier, Director of Aftersales. "RPM provides our dealers with powerful tools to improve parts and service marketing, streamline operations, and boost customer retention, which builds back-end customer loyalty and ultimately results in increased front-end vehicle sales."

"This is a tremendous validation for our RPM program," said Autobytel President and CEO Jeffrey Schwartz. "We're proud to help Mitsubishi dealers win back the parts and service dollars lost each year by US dealers to aftermarket competitors, and to help turn more current Mitsubishi owners into life-long Mitsubishi owners."

Developed by Autobytel Inc., RPM is a multimedia customer relationship management program that makes it easier and more affordable for auto dealers to retain service and sales customers. The program combines three direct marketing media -- digitally printed mail, "live" phone calls, and email -- to help dealers target customers with timely, personalized service reminders based on each recipient's specific ownership profile and driving habits. RPM also enables dealerships to provide personalized, dealer/manufacturer-branded web pages on their dealership sites, where each service customer can manage their individual service records and check for upcoming scheduled services. The foundation of the RPM program is up-to-date, detailed customer data, which RPM gathers and purifies on a daily/weekly basis. This high-quality data sets the stage for efficient, one-to-one service marketing and CRM. Dealers utilizing RPM, on average, report a 21:1 return on investment as well as a 29% response rate, which is more than five times the national average.

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. Autobytel generates over a billion dollars a month in car sales for dealers through its services and was the most visited new car buying and research destination in 2003, reaching millions of car-shoppers as they made their vehicle buying decisions.