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Post-Strike Auto Shopping Made Easier in Chicagoland

7 August 1998

Post-Strike Auto Shopping Made Easier in Chicagoland

    OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., Aug. 6 -- In a time when the public
perceives a shortage of available cars at area dealerships, the Chicago
Automobile Trade Association (CATA) reminds buyers that inventories are not as
low as they might think.
    "The recent GM strike affected some of our dealers' inventories," said
CATA chairman Bill Stasek, "but the situation isn't as bleak as some would
have you believe.  Customers might have to have a little more latitude in
color or options, but there's still plenty of selection available for anyone
looking for their next car."
    The strike also buoyed local used car sales and consequently raised the
value of trade-ins for Chicago-area buyers.
    "There's some simple 'supply and demand' going on in the market,"
commented CATA president Jerry Cizek.  "When the manufacturers weren't
supplying cars, focus was shifted to the factory-certified, pre-owned vehicle
programs that have become increasingly popular.  I think it opened a lot of
eyes to these programs which have been wildly successful over the past two
years.
    "We also saw a dramatic increase in the use of our CATA website,
dealerlocator.com, which topped the 17,000 vehicle inventory mark for the
first time in August," continued Cizek.  "As the public becomes more aware of
this valuable tool, they're starting to lean on it as the best and most usable
local used-car inventory database."
    While all of the CATA's 650 franchised new car dealers are listed in
dealerlocator.com, more than half of them have expanded listings that include
their used car inventories with full color photos.  Internet users can search
the huge database by various categories, such as make, price, location or even
mileage.
    "More dealers are joining dealerlocator.com every week," said Stasek.
"It's still new technology to many dealers, just as it is to many customers,
but they're both learning that the internet is a valuable tool for buying and
selling."