America Online and Autoweb Form Technology and Marketing Alliance
17 May 2000
America Online and Autoweb Form Technology and Marketing AllianceAmerica Online Licenses Autoweb Content and Technology, Allowing AOL Users to
Research and Configure a Car Completely Online
Autoweb Buying Services to Have Constant Presence on AOL Brands
SANTA CLARA, Calif. and DULLES, Va., May 17 Autoweb.com,
Inc. , the leading consumer automotive Internet service, and
America Online, Inc. , the world's leading interactive services
company, today announced a four-year infrastructure, technology and marketing
alliance under which Autoweb will license its automotive content, data and
technology to America Online, enhancing the ability of users to research and
buy cars through several AOL brands.
Under the agreement, Autoweb's content and new configuration and
comparison services, from its AIC division, will be integrated into automotive
areas across AOL, AOL.com, CompuServe, Netscape Netcenter and AOL Digital City
under "Powered by Autoweb" branding. Visitors to these AOL brands will be
able to configure a car by manufacturer, make, model, trim specifications and
other option packages, and perform simple or comprehensive side-by-side
comparisons of competitive vehicles.
As part of this premier relationship, Autoweb will also have a constant
presence on the AOL brands. This will enable the more than 24 million AOL and
CompuServe members and the tens of millions of additional visitors to AOL's
Web-based brands to access a new co-branded site allowing AOL members to
seamlessly access Autoweb's popular buying services.
The agreement is a key step in the development of the new AOL Auto
Channel, announced previously by America Online, which will offer members a
wealth of reliable, accurate information, services, and tools for car
shopping, buying and maintenance throughout the ownership cycle. As part of
the Auto Channel experience, AOL members will be able to instantly access the
co-branded Autoweb site.
By enriching America Online's automotive content with valuable Autoweb
information and functionality, the agreement furthers AOL's ability to provide
a platform for all auto manufacturers and their dealers to efficiently guide
informed car buyers through their sales channels; strengthen ongoing
communications with current owners; and deliver targeted, brand-specific
messaging to the users of all AOL's interactive properties.
"This alliance with America Online demonstrates that Autoweb is not only a
leading consumer brand offering the most popular online car-buying choices,
but also the owner of core assets that are making Autoweb the industry
standard in automotive data, content and technology," said Dean DeBiase,
chairman and CEO of Autoweb. "By leveraging the value of our premier
automotive content and tools we can seamlessly offer millions of America
Online users the best methods to research and compare cars online, combined
with our most popular car buying services."
"Purchasing a car involves a great deal of research, and can be confusing
and time-intensive," said Bob Pittman, President and Chief Operating Officer
of America Online Inc. "By deploying Autoweb's content and technology, we
will be able to simplify the process, offering the online consumers a
consistent, seamlessly integrated and personalized car buying experience."
About America Online, Inc.
Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is the
world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies, and
e-commerce services. America Online, Inc. operates: America Online, with more
than 22 million members, and CompuServe, with more than 2.7 million members,
the company's two worldwide Internet services; several leading Internet brands
including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Digital City, Inc.; the Netscape
Netcenter and AOL.COM portals; the Netscape Navigator and Communicator
browsers; AOL Moviefone, the nation's #1 movie listing guide and ticketing
service; and Spinner.com and NullSoft's Winamp, leaders in Internet music.
Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the company develops and
offers easy-to-deploy, end-to-end e-commerce and enterprise solutions for
companies operating in the Net Economy.
About Autoweb.com, Inc.
Autoweb.com is the leading consumer automotive Internet service, guiding
users through every stage of vehicle ownership. Through its auction, direct
and referral commerce channels, Autoweb.com offers consumers a variety of ways
to purchase new and used vehicles in conjunction with vehicle manufacturers,
local Member Dealers and other commerce partners. The company's Web site also
provides consumers with a wide range of automotive-related products to support
the complete lifecycle of the vehicle, including finance, insurance and
maintenance. Autoweb.com features comprehensive, unbiased research from its
Automotive Information Center (AIC) division, the leading provider of
automotive content, data and tools used to power Internet services, portals
and manufacturer Web sites. The company's content and buying models are
available on three out of the top four portals through its infrastructure
partner program. For more information, please visit http://www.autoweb.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release, including statements that include words
such as "expects," "believes" or other future-oriented statements, contain
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ from anticipated results. These risks and
uncertainties include changes in competitive behavior or market forces,
uncertainties regarding response from the vehicle manufacturers, changes in
the legal or regulatory environment, changes or lack of changes in consumer
preferences over time, technological challenges and an inability to forecast
future traffic and transactions. Further information on risk factors that
could affect results is detailed in Autoweb's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including its Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No.
333-71177) and its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999.
