AutoAuction.com Gears up to Compete With AutoNation
23 June 1999
HAINES CITY, Fla. -- AutoAuction.com, Inc., announced today that it plans to open a special web site to sell new and used cars for both dealers and individuals. The Company said this special web site is in addition to its web site currently undergoing beta testing which allows auctions, live, on-line for approximately 1,400 car dealers in Florida. The Company said its web site auto auctions is being tested and that individuals and dealers can "practice" or "play" with the development site during the beta testing stage. The live site for dealer auctions is expected to be activated for live auctions for dealers only in September or October of this year. The Company said it will introduce auto auctions, live, for individuals later in the year. In addition, the Company said its web site for new and used automobiles will, initially, be for automobile dealers only and will compete directly with AutoNation in Florida and throughout the U.S. While AutoNation's web site is targeting only 400 dealers in the U.S. and many fewer in the Tampa and Clearwater areas, AutoAuction.com will target about 30,000 new and used car dealers around the U.S. and will, eventually be opened up to individuals in most U.S. states. John Trusty, president of AutoAuction.com, Inc. said, "We have a lot of work ahead of us with the web site development and implementation but the market for auto sales, both new and used, on the internet is so huge that there is room for many companies. Our company just wants to be one of the first and we plan to offer the best service, technical support, financing, trade-ins, insurance, fleet discounts and services, and after-sales support and service. We look forward to competing with AutoNation and others as it will just motivate us to be the best we can be." AutoAuction.com, Inc. owns dealer auto auctions in Melbourne and Haines City, Florida and has developed proprietary internet software for dealer auto auctions. Its beta site for testing is currently located at: http://www.o-c-s.com/autoauction. AutoAuction.com, Inc. common stock is traded in the over-the-counter market under the symbol: AAAC. The stock closed yesterday at 9 1/2, up 1 1/2.