Experian Launches Country's Largest Automotive Informational Database

14 January 2000

Experian Launches Country's Largest Automotive Informational Database; The Company's National Vehicle Database Approaching 300 Millionth Vehicle

    ORANGE, Calif.--Jan. 14, 2000--Experian, a leading provider of global information solutions, Friday announced the official launch of its National Vehicle Database, the country's most comprehensive automotive relational repository with approximately 300 million vehicles and more than 9 billion rows of data.
    The new proprietary database will provide solutions to the automotive industry that include combinations of automotive data, demographic and life stage information for the most precise targeting of prospective and existing customers. The database seamlessly combines all of Experian's automotive information into a single data warehouse environment.
    "The structure, design, frequency of updates, and function of the National Vehicle Database is superior to anything in the marketplace," said John Jira, president of Experian's automotive information services group.
    "No one has ever created a database like this before. We are proud of the tremendous effort of our development team in creating a unique resource that will have a significant effect on the way our customers conduct their business."
    Unlike other repositories, Experian's National Vehicle Database is updated daily, enabling customers access to the most recent automotive information available. Data is put through a rigorous 65-step quality process to ensure the information is accurate and current.
    Built from more than 150 sources, including states' Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) data files, the database offers 100 percent coverage of all registered and titled vehicles with more than 70 relational data tables.
    "All data is acquired from sources that meet either the federally mandated Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) or industry guidelines," said Jira.
    "We believe that the partnerships we have developed with the state DMVs have not only enabled us to create the preeminent automotive informational database, but it has empowered us with the means to introduce a whole new generation of strategic automotive information solutions."

    Experian, www.experian.com, is a global information solutions company, which specializes in helping organizations to make more informed business decisions. The company is one of the world's leading suppliers of information on consumers, businesses, motor vehicles and property. By combining its databases with advanced technology and consulting services, Experian assists its clients in targeting and acquiring new customers, building successful customer relationships and managing financial risk. The company employs 12,000 people in the UK, USA, Continental Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific. Annual sales are approximately $1.5 billion. The company's headquarters are in Nottingham, UK, and Orange, Calif. Experian is a subsidiary of The Great Universal Stores P.L.C., a UK-based holding company that includes home shopping, retailing, property investment, finance and information services.