---

Autobytel.com Tops $1.2 Billion in Car Sales Per Month

21 September 1999

Autobytel.com Tops $1.2 Billion in Car Sales Per Month

     Autobytel.com Lays Down Benchmarks for Automotive E-commerce Sector

    IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 21 -- Autobytel.com , the
leading international automotive e-commerce solutions provider, today
announced several key metrics from its North American operations, including
that it now sells in excess of $1.2 billion in car sales through its
Accredited Dealer Network per month.
    "The current fascination with e-commerce press releases has left some
confusion in the online automotive marketplace," said Mark Lorimer, President
and CEO, Autobytel.com.  "It's time to set the benchmark for the automotive
e-commerce segment.  Autobytel.com also announced that its U.S. operations
alone generate more than $1.6 million an hour (24 hours a day/seven days a
week) in car sales through its Accredited Dealer Network."
    As reported in Automotive News (4/14/99), Autobytel.com sells more cars
than its two closest competitors combined.  In addition, Autobytel.com is the
eighth most recognized e-commerce brand and the first most recognized brand in
the online car-buying space, according to Opinion Research Corporation
(6/99 and 9/99).
    "When a company has more unaided brand recognition among consumers than
all of its competitors combined, that's category leadership," says Lorimer,
referencing Autobytel.com's brand strength among consumers.
    Autobytel.com is also visited most frequently for the purpose of locating
used vehicles for sale, as reported by J.D. Power and Associates in a press
release (8/2/99) on its Used Autoshopper.com Study(SM).  Moreover,
Autobytel.com ranks third among consumers looking for information about used
cars, behind only two nationally recognized automotive information-only sites
and ahead of all automotive e-commerce sites.
    "Brand dominance and transaction dominance, as evidenced by third-party
independent research, is my definition of leadership," continues Lorimer.
"Our dealers deliver cars to consumers' offices and doorsteps throughout the
nation everyday in numbers that dwarf any so-called 'direct' model.
Autobytel.com customers place orders for cars to be built at carmaker
factories every day at our website."
    In addition to its dominance of consumer mind share, as evidenced by its
unaided brand recognition, J.D. Power and Associates has reported that: "Among
online buying services, Autobytel.com is the largest, accounting for
45 percent of all new vehicles sold through an online service."  (New
Autoshopper.com Study(SM) press release, 8/23/99)
    "There is no reason for confusion in the automotive e-commerce space,"
concludes Lorimer.  "Independent metrics show that consumers have already
determined that Autobytel.com is number one and continuing its lead everyday."

    About Autobytel.com
    Internationally-branded Autobytel.com (http://www.autobytel.com) is the
acknowledged leader in online automotive commerce(1).  The most comprehensive
automotive Internet site, Autobytel.com offers consumers a positive purchasing
and ownership experience, while providing its Accredited Dealer Network with
the most efficient way to reach online car buyers.  As it assists consumers
through every aspect of the automotive life cycle, Autobytel.com provides
continuity into the next vehicle purchase.  Launched in March 1995,
Autobytel.com's low-cost, no-haggle car-buying program is available in the
U.S., Canada (http://www.autobytel.ca), the United Kingdom (http://www.autobytel.co.uk) and
Sweden (http://www.autobytel.se).  In 1999, Autobytel.com was ranked #1 in Dealer
Satisfaction with Online Buying Services for the second year in a row(2).

    The statements contained in this press release that are not historical
facts are forward-looking statements under the federal securities laws.  These
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and
involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to
predict.  Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is
expressed in, or implied by such forward-looking statements, Autobytel.com
undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  Among the
important factors that could cause Autobytel.com's actual results to differ
materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking
statements are changes in general economic conditions and increased or
unexpected competition and other matters disclosed in Autobytel.com's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    (1) As reported by J.D. Power and Associates, Autobytel.com generates
nearly as many new-vehicle sales as its two closest competitors combined.
    (2) J.D. Power and Associates 1998-1999 Dealer Satisfaction With Online
Buying Services Studies(SM).  1999 study conducted among dealership Internet
specialists who completed 1,024 individual evaluations.