Greenlight.com Teams Up With Hendrick Automotive Group and 9 Other Key Auto Retailers
17 July 2000
Greenlight.com's Newest Platinum Alliances are Latest Step in Aggressive National Expansion of Dealer Network
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Greenlight.com, one of the leading online new car-buying services, today announced equity alliances with Hendrick Automotive Group and nine other premier regional dealer groups including: Serra Automotive (Detroit), DCH (U.S.A.), Wilson Automotive Group (Los Angeles), Lou Fusz Automotive Network (St. Louis), Fletcher Jones Motorcars (Las Vegas), U.S. Auto Group (Detroit), Cush Automotive Group (San Diego), Putnam Automotive (San Francisco) and Magnussen Dealership Group (San Francisco).These groups are all leaders in their respective regions. Hendrick, the nation's sixth largest automotive retailer, is nationally recognized as one of the country's leading new and used car retailers with 61 franchises and 48 dealerships in ten states. Collectively, these groups represent more than 150 additional franchises in Greenlight.com's rapidly expanding Platinum Dealership network. More than 1,500 retailers have now chosen to be part of the Greenlight.com team.
The alliance with these leading groups reflects Greenlight.com's commitment to building strong relationships with the nation's top automotive dealers, as well as its promise of offering seamless, superior service and support to customers who choose to buy a car online. These leading dealer groups join Asbury Automotive and Sonic as participants in Greenlight.com's Platinum Partnership program. In these alliances, Platinum partners benefit from incremental sales and profits without additional costs; access to qualified, "ready-to-buy" customers; first look exclusives, increased service revenues and the opportunity to earn equity in Greenlight.com.
"Greenlight.com looks for dealer partners that are Internet savvy and meet the top-notch customer service standards that we are dedicated to delivering to consumers," said Joel Manby, president of Greenlight.com. "Our new platinum partners share Greenlight.com's philosophy that today's consumers want the convenience of purchasing vehicles online, as well as the peace of mind that an established local retailer can provide throughout the ownership lifecycle. Together, we give customers the best of both."
"We have chosen Greenlight.com above all other models because Greenlight.com demonstrates the strongest commitment to its dealer partners as well as to its customers. We are confident that the alliance with Greenlight.com's Platinum Partner Program will give our dealers an edge over other retailers," said Jim Perkins, president and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group. "We are always trying to develop new ways to support our dealers and this is an ideal opportunity for us."
Greenlight's platinum partnerships are a core element in its strategy of providing a great experience to customers by combining the online experience of a leading web company and the automotive experience of leading brick and mortar dealerships.
Greenlight.com is currently available to consumers in 27 major markets across the U.S., including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle, Detroit, Washington D.C., Boston and San Francisco. Greenlight.com continues to build its network by recruiting the most Internet-savvy, customer service-oriented dealers across the United States.
About Greenlight.com
Greenlight.com was founded in 1999 to bring to new car buying the same convenience, confidence and simplicity that online shopping has brought to other consumer goods. Greenlight.com has developed a true click and mortar model -- combining an online buying experience with the nation's strongest network of local dealers. Greenlight.com simplifies the buying process by giving consumers low, upfront pricing, the ability to get the exact car they want, a dedicated live account manager, great financing options and support from Greenlight's network of local dealers where and when it is needed.
Greenlight.com is backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm, and Asbury Automotive, an automotive retail industry leader. Greenlight.com has also received a strategic investment from Amazon.com and is Amazon.com's exclusive partner in the new car market.
About Hendrick Automotive Group
Hendrick Automotive Group is one of the leading automotive retailers in the United States, with operations in California, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Hendrick operates 61 franchises and 48 dealerships.