Autobytel's MyRide.com to Feature Millions of Used Vehicle Listings, Per-Call Pricing for Dealers
IRVINE, Calif. & LAS VEGAS--Autobytel Inc. today announced at the 2007 National Automobile Dealers Association Conference the upcoming launch of the Internet's largest used car program as part of the company’s new MyRide.com website, the world’s first fully-integrated automotive vertical search experience.
Scheduled to go live in the second quarter of 2007, the revolutionary site will feature the Automotive Internet's most advanced used car search tool, enabling MyRide.com shoppers to conduct uniquely precise searches across millions of pre-owned vehicle listings. The program offers powerful marketing advantages for program dealers, including integrated pay-per-call pricing for participating dealers, dealer specific inventory display, and sophisticated ad display and placement tools.
“In terms of inventory, tools, information, and the overall experience, MyRide.com is designed so that used car shoppers can find everything they need,” said Jim Riesenbach, president and CEO, Autobytel Inc. “We think these unique consumer offerings are going to translate into excellent results for our program dealers, who will be sitting on top of the Web’s largest selection of pre-owned vehicles – and the formidable consumer traffic that it’s likely to attract.”
Cracking the Used Car Market with the Industry’s Most Efficient Search Tool
Autobytel’s dramatically expanded used inventory is based on MyRide.com’s proprietary search platform as well as technology through an alliance with Vast, the largest aggregator of classifieds content. The resulting product should enable shoppers to quickly access the most relevant listings based on extraordinarily precise queries. “MyRide.com is designed to enable shoppers to do what they haven’t been able to do on a horizontal search engine like Google – and that’s sift through millions of used listings to find exactly what they want in a matter of seconds,” added Riesenbach.
The Most Advanced Third-Party Automotive Site with Pay-Per-Call Pricing
To help dealers convert the increased consumer traffic expected courtesy of its inventory and search offerings, MyRide.com will be the most advanced third-party automotive site to offer pay-per-call pricing for program dealers. Each program dealer listing will feature a dedicated, monitored local phone number, enabling dealers to monitor their marketing investment and pay only for phone-ins generated through the program. Program dealers’ vehicle listings will also include multiple photos, opportunities for dealership brand messages, and links to other dealership inventory. All the features will be supported by the latest in security technologies, including de-duplication tools and intelligent call monitoring, that are designed to protect dealers and make sure every caller is who they say they are.
“The goal is to give our dealers the most efficient possible access to a huge volume of exceptionally serious shoppers who’ve searched through millions of listings and know exactly what they want,” added Riesenbach. “Generally speaking, the online car marketing industry has stalled in terms of closing ratios. We’re looking forward to taking it to the next level with bold new ideas that make sense for today’s consumers and dealers.”
Autobytel’s used car program enhancements come during a time of sweeping change in the way people shop for used vehicles. In 2002, for the first time in history, more buyers sourced their used purchases online than through newspaper and magazine ads combined. By 2006, more than twice as many used buyers found the vehicle they purchased through the Internet than through print media.1
Dealers who are on the existing Autobytel Used Car Program (through either Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com or Carsmart.com) are expected to automatically have their inventory included in the new MyRide.com website and to be immediately eligible for the pay-per-call program. In addition, the inventory will be leveraged across Autobytel’s existing family of sites. Autobytel is currently accepting inquiries from dealers who wish to know more about the new program.
About Autobytel Inc.
Autobytel Inc. is one of the largest online automotive marketplaces, empowering consumers to make smart vehicle choices using objective automotive data and insightful interactive editorial content. The result is a convenient car-buying process backed by a nationwide network of dealers who are committed to providing a positive consumer experience. Every day consumers choose Autobytel-owned and operated websites—Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, CarSmart.com, Car.com, and CarTV.com – to facilitate their car-shopping decisions. Autobytel’s ability to attract millions of highly qualified, in-market car buyers and connect them with retailers has made it a leader in facilitating the entire customer car-buying lifecycle.
The Company’s innovative marketing, advertising and CRM products, including its Web Control® customer management system, Retention Performance Marketing (RPM®) service reminder program, and Special Finance Leads, are designed to enable dealers to offer a premium consumer experience. Since pioneering pro-consumer online automotive content and purchasing in 1995, Autobytel has helped more than twenty-seven million car buyers, generating billions of dollars in car sales for dealers.
1 J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Used Autoshopper.com Study(SM)