Autobytel Inc. Honored at AeA High-Tech Awards

Recognized as Outstanding Public Company by Leading Technology Industry Association

IRVINE, Calif., May 17 -- The Orange County Council of AeA celebrated technology growth at the Eleventh Annual High-Tech Awards and honored Autobytel Inc. as the 2004 Outstanding Public Company. Acknowledging the exciting momentum and progress of the technology industry, over 250 attendees were on hand at the Santa Ana Performing Arts Center as AeA gave special recognition to Autobytel for its outstanding contribution to the Orange County high-technology community.

Hosted annually by the AeA Orange County Council, the High-Tech Awards honor outstanding local technology companies and acknowledge individual contributions to the local high-tech business community.

"Autobytel Inc. has led the automotive industry -- the world's largest economic sector -- into a new era of efficient marketing and customer service -- for manufacturers, retailers and consumers alike," said Phil Beaudoin, executive director, AeA OC Council. "Their vision and innovation represents the very best of the Orange County business community, and everything our organization stands for."

"With more than 60,000 businesses and a $127 billion economy, Orange County has established itself as a global force in business and technology," said Autobytel Inc. President and CEO Jeffrey Schwartz. "To be selected as the most outstanding public company in this vibrant, world-class business community is a true honor -- a validation of our team's dedication, creativity, and hard work." Schwartz was the recipient of the 2003 AeA Award for Outstanding Executive of a Public Company.

The 2004 High-Tech Awards were sponsored by Deloitte, Marsh, Merrill Lynch, Silicon Valley Bank and Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth. Contributing sponsors were Aetna, RiechsBaird and ShowStaffers. Public relations support was provided by Lages & Associates. The 2004 High-Tech Awards event was produced by Focus Creative Group.

About AeA

Advancing the business of technology, AeA is the nation's largest high-tech trade association. AeA represents more than 3,000 companies with 1.8 million employees. AeA's 3000+ members span the high-technology spectrum, from software, semiconductors, medical devices and computers to Internet technology, advanced electronics and telecommunications systems and services. With 17 regional U.S. councils and offices in Brussels and Beijing, AeA offers a unique global policy grassroots capability and a wide portfolio of valuable business services and products for the high-tech industry. AeA has been the accepted voice of the U.S. technology community since 1943. For more information, please visit www.aeanet.org.

About Autobytel Inc.

Autobytel Inc. , a leading Internet automotive marketing services company, helps retailers sell cars and manufacturers build brands through marketing, advertising, data and CRM (customer relationship management) products and programs. The Company owns and operates the automotive Web sites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com, Car.com and AutoSite.com, as well as AIC (Automotive Information Center), a trusted industry source of automotive marketing data and technology for over 20 years. Autobytel is also a leader in dealership lead management and CRM solutions and owns and operates AVV, Inc., a top provider of dealership CRM and sales management products, and Retention Performance Marketing, Inc., (RPM), which powers dealerships with cutting-edge customer loyalty and retention marketing programs. 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 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. Autobytel's car-selling sites and lead management products are used by more of the nation's top-100 e-dealers than any other program.