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Auto Dealers if your not on line, you're nowhere!

21 December 1998

Ziff-Davis and Automotive News Join Forces to Honor the Best Automotive Dealer Web Sites

    NEW YORK, Dec. 18 -- Ziff-Davis and Automotive
News announced today the start of a co-sponsored nationwide search designed to
find the top eight automotive dealer web sites in the country.  The
bestcarsites.com contest will recognize the dealerships who are most
effectively using the Internet to market themselves to prospective automotive
buyers.
    According to InternetTrak, an ongoing, monthly survey of U.S. web usage
conducted by ICR, 10 million people shopped online for a car or truck
during the months of July, August and September 1998.  Of these online
shoppers, over 6 million people visited the dealer after going to the web
site while three million of these shoppers actually went to close the deal.
    "Automotive News is excited to partner with Ziff-Davis in honoring the
innovators in our industry," said Peter Brown, Editor and Associate
Publisher, Automotive News.  "The Internet has forever changed the way
buyers and sellers interact with one another.  Since automotive car buyers
are now researching their buying decisions online, dealers are confronted
with a more informed consumer.  In order to maintain a competitive
advantage, dealers need to design innovative, user-friendly and informative
web sites."
    "Technology has converged into the everyday life of America's most
affluent consumers," said Jim Spanfeller, Executive Vice President,
Emerging Markets Group, ZD Publishing.  "The Internet has become central
to a new lifestyle populated by consumers who purchase an array of products
and services, such as automobiles.  Ziff-Davis reaches these affluent
buyers while allowing smart advertisers the opportunity to reach them
efficiently in an editorial environment that is unmatched in terms of
reader affinity.  As such, Ziff-Davis is proud to recognize the outstanding
and innovative web sites designed by car dealerships."
    Dealers can nominate their web site for judging starting on Monday,
December 14 at http://www.bestcarsite.com.  The deadline for entries is January
11, 1999.  A panel of key editorial executives from Ziff-Davis and
Automotive News will judge the automotive dealership nominees and present
the awards at a ceremony at the National Automobile Dealer Association
Convention, NADA, in February.  Winners will be chosen for each of the
following eight categories:

    -- Best Overall Site
    -- Most User-friendly
    -- Most Innovative
    -- Best Content
    -- Best Interactivity
    -- Best Service and Parts Site
    -- Best New Car Site
    -- Best Pre-Owned Car Site

    About Ziff-Davis
    Ziff-Davis is a leading integrated media and marketing company focused on
Internet-related technology, with principal platforms in print publishing,
trade shows and conferences, online content, market research, and
education.  The company provides global technology companies with marketing
strategies for reaching key decision-makers.

    About Automotive News
    Founded in 1925, Automotive News is the leading weekly automotive
publication.  More than 45 editors and reporters worldwide cover the
industry from car design and strategy through the final retail sale.  Its
subcriber base includes 82,000 top executives.  The company also publishes
Automotive News Europe and Automotive International.