CARADVICE.COM.AU Aligns With Telstra

MELBOURNE – Aug 30, 2011: CarAdvice.com.au Pty Ltd has partnered with Telstra Corporation to create the Automotive Alliance. Under the Alliance, CarAdvice and Telstra will combine audience and inventory to create Australia’s largest automotive editorial audience and the second-largest online automotive network.

Justin Whelan, GM Sales and Marketing at CarAdvice will head up sales for the Auto Alliance and is upbeat about the announcement. “The advertising opportunities this deal creates are exactly what agencies have been asking for: more opportunities in which to engage an in-market audience and to position their products at the right time. A focussed and specialist sales unit can deliver advertising solutions that are far more efficient and effective than mass-reach platforms. I look forward to discussing this in more detail with auto advertisers and their agencies,” Whelan said.

Head of Telstra Advertising Network, Michael Padden, said the Alliance brings together some of Australia’s leading online automotive sites including tradingpost.com.au, carshowroom.com.au, CarAdvice.com.au and CarBuddy.com.au to create a network that will be represented in the market as Automotive Alliance.

"The Alliance positions our business to further capitalise on the advertising market's key growth categories and will complement our strengths in key verticals like sport and IPTV. Going forward we expect platforms like mobile and IPTV to become increasingly important to auto advertisers, and Telstra is well positioned to lead in those areas,” Mr Padden said.

CarAdvice CEO David Holmes said: “The Alliance between CarAdvice and Telstra creates alternatives for Australian automotive advertisers, buyers and sellers. The Alliance is about leveraging our combined strengths in the auto category, and shaking up the status quo. Customers can expect more innovation, greater speed to market and superior service from the Auto Alliance.”