AutoVantage Named America Online's Official Membership-Based Auto Service
27 January 1998
AutoVantage Named America Online's Official Membership-Based Auto Service
Co-Branded AOL/AutoVantage Site Gets a New Look
STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 27 -- AutoVantage, a leading
interactive car-buying service, was named America Online's official
membership-based auto service, the company announced today. This comes as
AutoVantage unveils its redesigned site on AOL, where it anchors the Car
Buying and Car Care categories in AOL's Auto Center and where it also provides
its award-winning free car-buying service.
The co-branded AOL/AutoVantage site was updated to make it easier than
ever for AOL consumers to use AutoVantage's free new-car buying service,
to shop for discounted automotive products and to enjoy the
comprehensive membership-based automotive service.
"This new partnership with America Online and its more than 10 million
members solidifies AutoVantage's position at the forefront of online car
buying," said AutoVantage Vice President Ken Esterow. "It's clear that online
car buyers have seen the value in services like AutoVantage that save
consumers time and money while making the whole buying process hassle-free.
The AOL/AutoVantage brand represents to consumers a great combination of
online-service leadership and award-winning car-buying expertise. Now,
partnered with AOL, AutoVantage will be the first destination for all things
automotive."
Apart from its co-branded America Online site (AOL keyword: AV),
AutoVantage is accessible at http://www.autovantage.com and through a toll-free
number, (800) AUTOVANTAGE.
The AOL/AutoVantage site offers:
* Free new-car buying service, rated #1 on the Internet by Motor Trend
magazine;
* Free new-car showroom featuring expert reviews, prices and other
information;
* Free nationwide used-car buying and selling service; and
* Membership-based automotive service featuring discounts on car care
and repairs at 23,000+ locations, 24 hr. roadside assistance, discounts
on car rentals and hotel rooms, trip routing and more.
More than 30,000 car buyers each month submit purchase requests to
AutoVantage as part of its hassle-free new-car buying service, which is
available free on America Online, the AutoVantage Web site
(http://www.autovantage.com) and toll-free number (800) AUTOVANTAGE. Car buyers
submitting a request soon receive from AutoVantage a preferred
hassle-free price and the name of a participating AutoVantage dealer nearby.
An independent survey found that the typical car buyer using AutoVantage will
save 8% over the manufacturer's sticker price.
AutoVantage is a division of Cendant Corporation , the entity
created by the recent merger of CUC International and HFS Incorporated.
Cendant Corporation is a global provider of consumer and business
services. The Company operates in three principal segments: Membership,
Travel and Real Estate. In Membership Services, Cendant provides access
to travel, shopping, auto, dining and other services through more than
73 million memberships worldwide. In Travel Services, the Company is the
leading franchisor of hotels and rental car agencies worldwide, the
premier provider of vacation exchange services and the second largest
fleet management company. In Real Estate Services, Cendant is the
world's premier franchisor of residential real estate brokerage offices,
a major provider of mortgage services to consumers and a global leader
in corporate employee relocation. A pioneer in interactive shopping,
Cendant is a major online commerce facilitator, with more than $1
billion in yearly sales through its netMarket(R) and other interactive
services.
SOURCE AutoVantage