Auto2Auto.Com: Used Car Dealership Opens Online

Auto2Auto.com America's Only True Online Auto Dealership Streamlines Purchase of Vehicles; Delivers To Convenient Locations Nationwide

COLUMBIA, Tenn. August 9, 2006; Consumers can now buy certified used cars over the Internet at prices below Kelly Blue Book values, thanks to auto2auto.com, America's first and only true Internet automobile dealership.

Auto2Auto.com officially opened its 341,000-square-foot corporate headquarters and distribution center here today, marking the beginning of a new era in the way used vehicles are retailed.

"The Internet is all about reducing prices and maximizing convenience, and that's exactly what we're doing," said auto2auto.com President and CEO Ben Freeland. "What could be easier than researching your vehicle, picking out the exact model you want at a great price, arranging your financing, and trading in your old vehicle - all online from the comfort of your home or office?"

Auto2Auto.com stores vehicles at its Columbia, Tenn., location and delivers them to buyers nationwide at no charge, with each vehicle coming with a 75,000-mile limited warranty, eliminating one of the common worries about buying a used vehicle.

Through a partnership with Pep Boys, the nation's leading automotive aftermarket retail and service chain, most vehicles purchased on auto2auto.com will be delivered to a Pep Boys location in or near the buyer's hometown. Pep Boys has 593 stores in 36 states and Puerto Rico.

Other features of auto2auto.com include:

*        No-haggle, no-hassle pricing below Kelly Blue Book

*        Mechanical inspections performed by certified Pep Boys service
technicians

*        Easy trade-in capability

*        Financing for all credit levels

*        A three-day return policy on all vehicles

*        An extensive inventory presented with exclusive TotalView
presentation format

*        75,000-mile limited warranty on all purchases

 

"We provide a better overall shopping experience than you can find at most local dealerships," said Freeland, who also continues to serve as CEO of a traditional car dealership in Southwest Florida. "Buying a car this way is not for everyone, but almost 60 percent of used car buyers are already using the Internet at some point in the purchase process. Taking the next step and completing the transaction online is the future of car sales. Our business model reduces costs by utilizing the power of the Internet while delivering exceptional customer service and all the benefits of a traditional dealership."

Today's announcement represented one of the largest recent investments in Maury County, Tenn. Freeland said auto2auto.com's dealings with the state and local officials, as well as the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Maury Alliance, streamlined the process. auto2auto.com will initially employ 200 people locally in its first year, with an additional 300 hires projected over the next three years.

"Strong and innovative companies on the cutting edge of technology are exactly the kinds of companies we are seeking to attract," said Matthew Kisber, commissioner of the state's department of Economic and Community Development. "We're glad auto2auto.com decided to locate its headquarters here, and we know the jobs will be good for the community."

The Middle Tennessee area has gained significant recognition in the last two years as a prime location for corporate headquarters. Companies such as Nissan North America, Louisiana-Pacific, and Caremark have moved their headquarters to Nashville recently, and the area was cited as America's "hottest city" for corporate relocations and expansions by Expansion Management magazine each of the last two years. Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine this year named the Nashville area the No. 1 "smartest city" in which to live.

"By moving its corporate headquarters to Columbia, the company brings tremendous opportunity for hundreds of people in this area to join a dynamic and growing company," said Jack Bovender, chairman of Partnership 2010, the economic and community development arm of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Frank Tamberrino of the Maury Alliance said auto2auto.com's decision to locate in Columbia adds to the area's already strong automotive employer base.

"Columbia's location on the growing I-65 Southern automotive corridor, with the GM Spring Hill (Saturn) plant as a major employer, has given us a strong presence in the traditional automotive sector," he said. "The new marketing concept behind auto2auto.com skillfully combines the experience of our local labor force in the automotive, customer service and technology fields. We are excited about the long-term potential of this enterprise."

About Auto2Auto.com

auto2auto.com - a full-service, licensed dealer - is a division of Mobile Internet Technologies, which also founded StraightAway, a by-owner car sales business and online auto loan processing center.