AutoPlanet Announces It Will Launch New Automotive Supersite This Fall
18 September 2000
AutoPlanet Announces It Will Launch New Automotive Supersite This Fall
MINNEAPOLIS--Sept. 18, 2000--AutoPlanet(TM) announced today that it will enter the online automotive market this fall with a unique, multi-faceted information and services site for car owners on the web. AutoPlanet -- "The Intelligent Automotive Supersite" -- will help people make smart decisions about buying, owning and maintaining their car. With a suite of vehicle management tools, time and money saving information and features, and proprietary technology that protects user anonymity, AutoPlanet will strive to be the premier, independent and unbiased online resource for car owners.
AutoPlanet's competitive distinction will be significant: objective data and more of it, user anonymity through proprietary privacy software, and more comprehensive features and services. AutoPlanet will also distinguish itself from its competitors by serving automotive and related marketers with highly targeted, aggregated consumer data, while still adhering to its privacy pledge for the consumers.
AutoPlanet will make itself the primary online automotive resource by combining relevant information from a variety of sources and linking it with data provided by the user. Because there is much more to car ownership than the purchase, this dynamically integrated data works in the background on behalf of users searching for and delivering relevant information and valuable time and money saving offers and services, all under a rigorous protection of anonymity.
"Consumers want the wealth of information and tools they can get online but they don't want to sacrifice their personal privacy to do it," said Jeff Pester, CEO of AutoPlanet. "AutoPlanet will never give out our customers' names and contact information for any reason. We designed this site for consumers who want information on their own terms. At the same time, we will be able to give marketers access to highly targeted customers in an active buying cycle."
Pester added that the company's business model calls for the site to aggregate data on the preferences of consumers to provide valuable information for car and car-related manufacturers and marketers. "The anonymous, combined consumer information we will have will be critical to understanding consumer needs and desires for car marketers and for all of those who sell automotive related products and services. AutoPlanet will be able to gather targeted information from consumers while they are in a pre-purchase mode because we make it clear that we do not sacrifice the consumer's individual privacy rights to collect it. Consequently, we will be able to deliver both data and qualified, motivated potential buyers to our automotive partners."
AutoPlanet is currently completing work on the main site in preparation for a Fall 2000 launch. The Company's pre-launch sweepstakes -- currently underway -- will give away four of the year's hottest new vehicles, including the Acura RL, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda S2000 Roadster and the Toyota Land Cruiser. U.S. residents 18 years and older can register to win their choice of the four cars by visiting http://www.autoplanet.com. All entries must be received via online registration by September 22, 2000.
AutoPlanet's offices are located in Minneapolis at 800 Washington Avenue North, Suite 321. Contact the company at www.autoplanet.com or 612.373.6030.