MSN CarPoint Announces Planned Launch of No. 1 U.S. Online Car-Buying Service in Canada

5 June 2000
MSN CarPoint Announces Planned Launch of No. 1 U.S. Online Car-Buying Service in Canada
   Top-Ranked Consumer Automotive Site Will Be Distributed Through New Auto
                              Channel for MSN.CA

    REDMOND, Wash., June 5 MSN(TM) CarPoint(TM), the leading
online automotive marketplace, today announced it will launch a Canadian
version of its U.S. Web site that will provide comprehensive resources for
researching and buying new cars via the Web.
    CarPoint Canada will be available in both French and English and will
serve as the new Auto Channel for MSN.CA, which reaches 2.2 million consumers
each month according to Media Metrix Inc. (April 2000).
    The site is scheduled to launch later this year, and prominent Canadian
automotive journalist Marc Lachapelle will serve as the site's editor in
chief, overseeing editorial content and news. Lachapelle is a member of the
Auto Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) and the former editor of
Le Monde de L'Auto Magazine. He has received numerous accolades, including
Canadian Automotive Journalist of the Year, and AJAC honors for
professionalism in journalism and photography.
    "We welcome the addition of Marc Lachapelle to the CarPoint team and the
positive impact his automotive experience will have on our editorial
initiatives," said Jeff Dossett, CEO of CarPoint at Microsoft .
"CarPoint will continue to enter global markets well-suited for online car
buying, and we look forward to working with Canadian dealers and manufacturers
to sell more cars, more efficiently. Our site will give manufacturers and
dealers the opportunity to showcase their products and services to the
millions of online users in Canada and leverage the Internet to build stronger
relationships with customers."
    "I am excited to join the CarPoint team and help bring this leading-edge
consumer service to Canada," said Marc Lachapelle, editor in chief of CarPoint
Canada. "We aim to provide Canadian consumers with the most complete and
pertinent information and services they want and need to make the right
decision when purchasing a new vehicle."
    The site will feature new car-buying resources similar to those available
in the United States, including Canadian-specific data, content, resources,
prices, safety information and new product releases. The site will also
feature special reports, industry news and detailed automotive reviews by
noted Canadian automotive journalist Daniel Heraud.
    CarPoint Canada technology and site design will closely mirror the U.S.
version, and dealers will be supported by The Reynolds and Reynolds (Canada)
Ltd., a leading provider of integrated information management systems. As a
strategic provider for the CarPoint online automotive service, Reynolds will
focus on dealer marketing, enrollment, training and support. Reynolds
& Reynolds and CarPoint will be on hand to meet with dealers at the Canadian
Auto Dealers Association (CADA) show in Ottawa, Ontario, June 5-6, 2000.
    "CarPoint is committed to building the technology to power the automotive
marketplace, including unparalleled resources that bring dealers and
manufacturers together with online consumers," Dossett said.
    MSN CarPoint is the most-visited online car-buying service in the United
States, reaching more than 6 million consumers per month, and generates more
than $650 million (U.S.) in vehicle sales for its 3,700 affiliated dealers
each month.

    About Reynolds and Reynolds
    Reynolds and Reynolds (Canada) Ltd., headquartered in Mississauga,
Ontario, is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Reynolds and Reynolds Co.
, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio (USA). Reynolds and Reynolds is
intent on leading the transformation of worldwide automotive retailing with
information management, eCRM and Internet solutions. The company reported
revenues of $1.56 billion for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 1999. For more
information on Reynolds and Reynolds, visit http://www.reyrey.com/auto/canada/
or call the Information Hotline at 888-4REYREY.

    About Microsoft
    Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company
offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people
through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.
    NOTE:  Microsoft, MSN and CarPoint are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The
names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks
of their respective owners.