Chrome Creates Intelligent Configuration Infrastructure, Allows Complete Customization; Suite of Configuration Tools Enables Development of Custom Automotive Applications

6 December 2000

Chrome Creates Intelligent Configuration Infrastructure, Allows Complete Customization; Suite of Configuration Tools Enables Development of Custom Automotive Applications

    PORTLAND, Ore.--Dec. 6, 2000--Chrome Data Corporation, the most accurate independent business-to-business provider of automotive data, configuration technology and software, today announced the availability of Chrome AutoBuilder(TM), a major step forward in the retail automotive industry's ability to develop custom applications using Chrome's configuration technology platform.
    AutoBuilder is a suite of vehicle configuration and pricing tools separating the user interface and data presentation tiers from the underlying logic engines powering the industry's most accurate configuration technology platform. These tools enable OEMs, Dealer Service Providers (DSPs), online buying sites, fleet management companies and mega-dealers to access Chrome's vehicle information and inventory databases and quickly create custom applications for the automotive market.
    AutoBuilder is a powerful open-architecture, object-oriented solution for automotive commerce based on standard and proven technologies such as Java, CORBA and XML. It is highly scalable and reliable. Because it works across all major platforms, clients can leverage their existing technology investments. AutoBuilder is built on Chrome's configuration technology, including robust order logic with more than 100,000 ordering rules and more than 200,000 pricing rules. This ensures only orderable vehicles and the most accurate prices.
    The suite of tools in AutoBuilder offers more than configuration technology. AutoBuilder provides application designers a range of new ways to organize configurations, such as searching by lifestyle considerations. A number of tools allow designers to locate vehicles in multiple networks of inventory databases, including the ability to specify which inventories are searched and in what order (for example, search the dealer's inventory first, then search an allied online car-buying portal; or search the entire aggregated inventory of a dealer group; or search all dealers of a particular manufacturer in order of geographical distance from a particular zip code) and Web-based inventory database editing (for example, to mark a vehicle `sold').
    "Our clients wanted the ability to design their own applications while relying on Chrome to provide the most accurate information, orderable configuration intelligence and the power to electronically search multiple networks of inventory," said Bob Navarre, Chrome CEO. "AutoBuilder provides a development infrastructure for businesses to quickly create unique and robust automotive applications that meet the highest standards of functionality."
    "Our primary goal with this initiative was to shorten the development cycle," said Jacque Silver, vice president of technology at iMotors, the only direct seller of certified used cars. "Using AutoBuilder, we were able to quickly develop our own application and populate it with good, reliable data."

Chrome: Most Accurate Data Provider

    In a recent independent study CNW Marketing/Research compared the pricing data of the major online automotive data sources by configuring 86 different vehicles at eight different Web sites (see Chrome Data Named Most Accurate Data Provider for Automotive e-Commerce, June 27, 2000). Chrome ranked first in data accuracy with an average price accuracy of 99.64%.

About Chrome Data

    Chrome Data pioneered the technology behind electronic vehicle configuration and for the past 14 years has collected, analyzed and enhanced "raw" automotive data from all manufacturers.
    Chrome's configuration technology platform allows dealers, Internet portals, financial institutions and insurance and warranty companies to provide their customers with tools to configure vehicles both online and on the desktop -- including specifications on all new vehicle makes and models, standard and optional equipment, vehicle pictures and accurate pricing. This information precisely matches manufacturers' invoice and MSRP pricing, enabling users to configure and order any vehicle sold in the U.S. with the confidence that the delivered product and price are exactly what was expected.
    Chrome's flagship product, the desktop research, pricing and ordering tool PC Carbook(R), is widely accepted as the standard in automotive data. Chrome's Web-based product, Chrome Carbook(TM), can be accessed from more than 1,000 Web sites across the Internet. The company is based in Portland, Oregon and may be reached at 800/936-8906. Company information is available at www.chrome.com.

    Copyright (c) 2000 Chrome Data Corporation. All rights reserved. PC Carbook(R), C/D3(R), Chrome.com(R), Chrome Carbook(TM) and Chrome AutoBuilder(TM) are trademarks of Chrome Data Corporation.