Autobytel Recognized by California Innovation Corridor Partners as ``Innovation All-Star'' at Statewide Event

IRVINE, Calif.--Autobytel Inc. , a leading Internet automotive marketing services company, today announced its selection as one of the California Innovation Corridor’s 75 Innovation All-Stars. Autobytel Inc. was honored at the two-day California Tech 100 conference held April 24-25 at the Irvine Hilton/Orange County Airport.

The California Tech 100 is endorsed by the California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth. Of the 75 companies recognized as Innovation All-Stars, 15, including Autobytel, received the California Innovation Award for outstanding leadership during a special late afternoon ceremony on April 25.

“Autobytel is pleased to be recognized by the California Innovation Corridor as an Innovation All-Star,” said Autobytel president and CEO Jim Riesenbach. “Autobytel has always been committed to fulfilling the ever-changing needs of online consumers. We intend to continue our momentum with the upcoming launch of MyRide.com, the world’s first fully-integrated automotive vertical search experience.”

“We believe innovation and entrepreneurship are the drivers of economic growth in California,” added Mark Mosher, Executive Director for the California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth—a nonprofit corporation whose members are chosen by the Governor to advise him on how to expand jobs and economic growth in the state. “These Innovation All-Stars are models for our state.”

Managed by the California Space Authority (CSA), and administered through the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), the California Innovation Corridor is one of the state's initiatives to foster innovation and includes more than 60 partner organizations throughout 13 counties. It was Corridor partners that reviewed nearly 300 nominees before reducing the list to the 75 Innovation All-Stars.

Visit http://www.goldencapital.net/Events/OC_AllStarList.asp for a full roster of Innovation All-Star companies.

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.