PeopleSupport Connects Toyota Dealers With Car Buyers
20 April 2000
PeopleSupport Connects Toyota Dealers With Car Buyers by Providing Live Interactive Chat Customer Support; Consumers Get Immediate Answers When Car Shopping Online
LOS ANGELES--April 20, 2000--Toyota Motor Sales today announced that it has selected PeopleSupport(TM) Inc., the leading provider of unified Internet customer care, to support Toyota's interactive Web site with live chat and e-mail on a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week basis.For the first time, Toyota shoppers will get live personalized customer service on the Web, enabling them to inquire about new and used cars, vehicle configuration and availability, and dealership locations.
Toyota Prius, the hybrid gasoline/electric vehicle, will become available to U.S. consumers this summer. This vehicle will deliver a combined fuel economy rating of about 50 miles per gallon.
In anticipation of a high volume of inquiry and intrigue surrounding the vehicle, PeopleSupport will deploy a "Live Help" button on the Prius Web page where car shoppers can get more detailed information about the car from live customer care representatives (eReps(TM)).
"Toyota is leading the automotive industry by incorporating 24 hour live chat into its interactive Web site," said June Okamoto, Toyota's Internet marketing manager. "Since the Prius is a hybrid vehicle of interest to early adopters, we felt that we would best reach our customers via the Internet.
"PeopleSupport's high level of interactive customer service will provide consumers with the capacity to get detailed information about the hybrid gasoline/electric vehicle and learn more about where the vehicle will be available for purchase through qualified Toyota dealers."
In addition to supporting the Prius site, www.buyatoyota.com of western Washington state will also integrate PeopleSupport's 24 x 7 chat and e-mail services. PeopleSupport's eReps are highly trained, Web-savvy customer care representatives who will be accessible to Prius and BuyAToyota.com customers through the click of a button.
Once connected to an eRep, car shoppers will be able to engage in live chat conversation with knowledgeable, friendly representatives to get answers to their car-specific questions.
"Toyota's approach to online customer service will not only help influence car sales, but will significantly differentiate them in this competitive marketplace," said Lance Rosenzweig, chairman and CEO of PeopleSupport.
About Toyota Motor Sales
Toyota Motor Sales, (TMS) USA, Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota in America. Toyota is America's fourth-largest car maker and manufactures more than 1 million cars per year in North America. TMS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp. Toyota ADRs are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: TM)
Established in 1957, TMS oversees operations of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Toyota Industrial Equipment dealerships in 49 states. With approximately 8,500 employees, Toyota Motor Sales and its subsidiaries also are involved in financial and insurance services, distribution logistics, motorsports R&D and the general aviation and recreational boating industries.
The company's main Web site is http://www.toyota.com.
About PeopleSupport -- 'Powering e-Customer Care' (SM)
PeopleSupport is the leading unified Internet customer care service provider. The company's comprehensive suite of customized services includes live text chat, personalized e-mail reply, telephone services, and interactive self-help.
PeopleSupport provides e-businesses with a flexible range of support options including complete outsourcing, software and infrastructure hosting, customer care consulting, and training.
PeopleSupport's clients include Fortune 500 companies and leading e-commerce businesses such as MGM (NYSE:MGM), Time-Warner (NYSE:TWX), GE Card Services, Reel.com, BrandsForLess.com, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., CarParts.com and Tavolo.
PeopleSupport has received approximately $75 million of venture financing from Accel Partners, Benchmark Capital, Cambridge Technology Partners (Nasdaq:CATP), Camelot Ventures, CDB Web Tech, Extraprise, Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HWP), idealab Capital Partners, iXL Ventures, Meritech Capital Partners, Octane Capital Management, Siebel Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:SEBL), Tarrant Venture Partners, TMCT Ventures and Viant Corp. (Nasdaq:VIAN).
For more information, visit http://www.PeopleSupport.com.