Tire Distributors Partner with OEConnection to Better Serve New Car Franchise Dealerships

RICHFIELD, Ohio, Sept. 15 -- OEConnection LLC, a leader in ecommerce procurement and analysis solutions for the automotive original equipment replacement parts business, today announced an initiative with major tire distributors to provide automotive dealerships with a centralized information sales and sourcing channel for fast, easy procurement of replacement tires. As part of this initiative, OEConnection is adding tire distributor inventories to their industry-leading D2DLink(R) ecommerce parts locator, creating one comprehensive tool for OE parts and tire sourcing.

Relied on by over 11,800 subscribers nationwide spanning General Motors, Ford, Isuzu, Jaguar, Land Rover, Nissan and Suzuki parts departments, D2DLink users conduct more than 140,000 parts searches daily. Product usage and franchise coverage make D2DLink a natural distribution channel for tire distributors, and an added productivity enhancer for automotive parts departments.

Participating tire distributors include Tire Kingdom; Goodyear Wholesale Tire Centers; Kauffman Tire; and K&M Tire and Terry's Tire Town of the Best One Tires and Service Group. OEConnection anticipates adding additional tire distributors as they proceed with a phased regional introduction. D2DLink tire visibility is currently available for users in select Southeast and North Central states with planned national rollout in early 2006.

Ted Fellowes, OEConnection Vice President, Supply Chain Solutions commented, "We're all about creating technology to streamline the OE replacement parts supply chain. By providing automotive dealers with visibility to tire distributor inventories, we are saving parts managers time in locating tires, extending tire distributors' reach with lucrative new sales channels, and most importantly, delivering timely responses to consumers. We're pleased to pioneer the addition of tire visibility within OEConnection's toolset."

Added Mike Papi, Tire Kingdom Vice President of Business Development, "The automotive dealer market for tires is growing. By partnering with OEConnection, we can better serve this emerging channel and our mutual end customer by taking advantage of parts technology already in use by thousands of dealerships."

Provided as a no-charge, value-added enhancement, D2DLink users simply enter a tire part number or use OEConnection's new Search by Tire Size feature to quickly pinpoint availability and location. Consistent with D2DLink practices, tire inventories are updated daily helping ensure timely, accurate parts information at the point of sale.

"The problem we're solving is simply giving service advisors the means to immediately respond to their customers' tire needs," commented Steve True, OEConnection Director of Corporate Sales & Account Relations. "We're pleased to see that our solution has evolved to the mutual benefit of automakers, new vehicle dealerships, tire distributors and vehicle owners."

For more information regarding OEConnection's tire initiatives, contact Steve True at 888.776.5792, x1844.

About OEConnection LLC

OEConnection is a provider of web-based technology solutions for automakers, their affiliated dealers, and others in the automotive parts business. Serving over 12,000 dealerships and collision repairers, OEConnection is a venture created by DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and ProQuest. The company is headquartered in the greater Cleveland area at 4150 Highlander Parkway, Richfield, OH, 44286. For more information, call 1-888-776-5792 or visit www.OEConnection.com.