iMotors.com Launches in Oregon
4 April 2000
iMotors.com, Nation's First Online Used Car Retailer, Launches in Oregon; Like-New Cars: Found, Fixed and Delivered
PORTLAND, Ore.--April 3, 2000--iMotors.com, the Internet's first and only used car e-tailer, today introduced its service in Oregon with the opening of its first Delivery Center in downtown Portland. Portland becomes another important market opening for iMotors, further cementing the company's status as America's premier used car e-tailer."Oregonians have never bought a used car like this. iMotors uses the Internet to deliver what the used car customer wants most -- the highest quality vehicles, unlimited selection, and a fair price," iMotors' CEO Adam Simms said. "Portland is an important market for us and I am confident that consumers will respond enthusiastically, as they have in other sophisticated, online cities."
iMotors is not a referral service, broker or auction site. iMotors carries no expensive inventory and maintains low overhead, allowing consumers to custom order one to five-year-old used cars. Customers can specify make, model, options and color online at www.imotors.com or via a toll free number. They are guaranteed a price hundreds to thousands of dollars lower than the Kelley Blue Book retail price. iMotors' buyers locate and buy the vehicle from a pool of 1.8 million used vehicles on the market each month. iMotors reconditions each vehicle and certifies it to be in like-new condition at its state-of-the-art Vehicle Certification Center. Once completed, customers take delivery of their vehicles at an iMotors Delivery Center.
The Portland iMotors Delivery Center is located at 1330 SW Third Avenue. At this fully licensed facility, iMotors customers inspect their new vehicle with an iMotors agent, take a test drive and complete paperwork. iMotors has opened eleven other Delivery Centers throughout the West Coast.
iMotors' Portland market entry is coordinated with a major advertising campaign that broke Friday throughout the region. The campaign, created by Saatchi & Saatchi San Francisco, includes newspaper, television, radio, online and outdoor advertising with the slogan: "You've never bought a used car like this."
Americans buy an estimated 40 million used cars and trucks annually, nearly twice as many as are purchased new. iMotors is the first used car retailer to use the Internet to fix what is commonly viewed as one of the most uncomfortable and risk-prone of purchases.
"We built the business around the customer's needs rather than around the traditional used car selling model," said iMotors president Beth VanStory. "At iMotors, we believe customers shouldn't have to sacrifice quality, selection or service when they're buying a used car. Our automotive technicians, service representatives, and managers have one simple goal -- to exceed the customer's expectations," she said.
Vehicles for delivery to West Coast customers are thoroughly tested, inspected and certified at the iMotors' Vehicle Certification Center (VCC) near Sacramento. iMotors recently announced two new VCCs near Cincinnati and Atlanta which will allow the company to serve customers in the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast.
How the iMotors process works:
- The consumer logs onto www.imotors.com or calls 888-IMOTORS
and specifies the year, make, model, options, color choices,
and mileage of the vehicle desired. The customer gets a
no-hassle quote up front that is hundreds to thousands of
dollars less than Kelley Blue Book retail price.
- To secure the order, the consumer provides a refundable $250
deposit, signs an iMotors Search and Locate Agreement,
provides proof of financing, or applies for financing through
iMotors.
- iMotors' expert buyers quickly locate, assess and buy the car
that matches the customer's order and iMotors' high quality
standards.
- The vehicle is shipped to an iMotors Vehicle Certification
Center where it undergoes a comprehensive inspection and
certification of its engine, power train, accessories,
interior and exterior. ASE and I-CAR-certified mechanics and
technicians use state-of-the-art equipment to go beyond many
major manufacturers' standards to make sure each iMotors car
is in outstanding mechanical and cosmetic condition.
- iMotors schedules an appointment at an iMotors Delivery
Center, where the customer inspects and drives the vehicle and
finalizes paperwork. The customer receives an AutoBiographySM,
a complete history of the car that verifies a clean title and
accurate odometer, and details testing, inspection and any
work performed at the iMotors facility.
- The consumer drives away with his or her like-new car --
iMotors stands behind its work with a 3-month/3,000-mile
warranty and a 7-day/700-mile, no-questions-asked, money-back
guarantee.
About iMotors
iMotors was launched in September 1999 as the Internet's first real e-commerce auto company, allowing customers to buy thoroughly tested, inspected and certified used vehicles entirely online. iMotors is a privately held company, backed by a renowned group of investors with successful track records at leading land-based retail and internet/e-commerce businesses. Investors include Vulcan Ventures, Global Retail Partners, Oak Investment Partners, Trinity Ventures, Rosewood Capital Partners, Moore Capital Management, Inc., and MeriTech Capital Partners. iMotors.com and AutoBiography are service marks of iMotors.com.
Note to editors, reporters: We can set up interviews with Beth VanStory and arrange interviews with local customers as they become available. Art directors: The iMotors logo file is available.