National Automobile Dealers Association and the Cobalt Group Launch Industry-Wide e-Commerce Push
10 January 2000
National Automobile Dealers Association and the Cobalt Group Launch Industry-Wide e-Commerce Push
SEATTLEJan. 10, 2000--Capabilities and Expand Consumer Choice
The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and The Cobalt Group, Inc. , a leading provider of Internet solutions for the automotive industry, today announced aggressive programs to accelerate Web site adoption by NADA's member dealers and create a comprehensive consumer automotive portal with easy access to NADA dealers' Web sites and new and used vehicle inventory.
"With 19,500 member dealers and its immensely popular automotive industry trade conference, NADA is far and away the nation's most influential automotive dealer trade association," said John Holt, co-chief executive officer of The Cobalt Group. "We are extremely proud of having earned NADA's exclusive endorsement for our comprehensive Internet marketing packages for NADA member dealers. The additional opportunity to create a uniquely powerful automotive consumer portal in partnership with NADA is a remarkable and very exciting opportunity," added Holt.
"Dealers are playing a leading role in the development of automotive e-commerce," said NADA chairman James A. Willingham. "The NADA-Cobalt partnership will make it easier for NADA's dealer members to further integrate the Internet into their operations, and the NADA automotive portal will give consumers a single Web site with direct online access to thousands of participating member dealers' Web sites and their new and used inventories," added Willingham.
Cobalt will offer NADA dealers two different NADA-endorsed Web packages, allowing them to select a solution that best matches their requirements. The NADA Web Essential Package -- as the name implies -- provides the fundamental Web development and business management tools a dealer needs to establish dynamic e-commerce operations. Features include Web site development and hosting, e-mail forms, automated new and used vehicle inventory listing capabilities, traffic reporting and links to OEM and NADA resources.
The NADA Web Premier Package builds on the Essentials package with advanced features such as Cobalt's AdWizard Plus, Lead Manager Express, Service Solution 2-1-1 and the PartsVoice Parts Locator system.
Both packages will be showcased at the annual NADA Conference in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 22-25.
"Cobalt's NADA-endorsed packages provide a valuable opportunity for dealers who want to get on the Web or upgrade their existing sites," said Willingham, noting that 26 percent of new-vehicle dealerships currently don't have Web sites and thousands of other dealers have underperforming sites. "The Cobalt Group offers cost-effective and highly functional Web site design and support that is customized to meet the needs of dealers."
The other key feature of the NADA-Cobalt initiative is an all-new Internet automotive portal that will allow consumers to search the world's largest online inventory of new cars and trucks, along with a substantial inventory of used vehicles. The site also will provide online shoppers with an enhanced dealer locator, consumer advice, access to the consumer edition of the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide, and other features. When the site launches in April, consumers will be able to access more than 550,000 new and used vehicles listed by Cobalt's dealer customers and direct links to thousands of dealer Web sites.
"Through major initiatives such as this partnership, momentum in automotive e-commerce is clearly shifting in favor of dealers and their customers," said Cobalt's Holt. "Dealers have the knowledge, vehicles and services that online customers need."
About NADA
The National Automobile Dealers Association represents more than 19,500 franchised new-car and -truck dealers holding nearly 40,000 separate franchises, domestic and import. NADA provides its members counsel on legal and regulatory matters, represents dealers on Capitol Hill, develops data on the auto industry and operates training programs to improve dealership business operations.