IRVINE, Calif.--Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq:ABTL), a leading Internet automotive marketing services company, and The CAR (Conant Auto Retail) Group, one of the nation's largest privately owned automotive groups, have agreed to make available a new Autobytel online referral program to The CAR Group dealerships and superstores throughout California, including Norm Reeves Honda Superstore, America's top performer in total sales since 1991. The new program will funnel qualified Autobytel customer leads to participating dealers.
"It is an honor to be working with a premier retailer like The CAR Group," said Autobytel Inc. President and CEO Jim Riesenbach. "We consider this alliance another validation of our efforts to provide the best Internet marketing services to dealers across the country." Riesenbach noted that this alliance is one of many that Autobytel has entered into with top dealer groups across the country.
In addition to receiving Purchase Requests for new and used vehicles from Autobytel's vast audience of monthly web car shoppers, The CAR Group dealerships will benefit from Autobytel's proprietary 7-step Quality Verification System(SM), one of the industry's most rigorous programs to verify the purchase-intent of online customers. The system is a key factor in the exceptional quality of Autobytel.com's leads, which generate some of the highest closing ratios in the industry.
"Autobytel has an outstanding reputation for consistently connecting consumers with the right car and dealership," said Richard Fisler, Corporate Project Manager, The CAR Group. "We expect very positive results for our wide network of successful dealerships through our new marketing alliance with Autobytel."
About Autobytel Inc.
Since launching the first car-buying website in 1995, Autobytel Inc.'s (Nasdaq:ABTL - News) mission has been to empower automotive consumers with the tools and information they need to make smart, well-informed vehicle purchasing and ownership decisions. The company has helped millions of car shoppers and generated billions of dollars in car sales for dealers. Today, the company's innovative, consumer-driven flagship site, MyRide.com, currently available in a public Beta Edition, expands the company's mission across the automotive purchase and ownership life cycle to meet the wide-ranging auto-related needs and interests of today's Internet-savvy automotive community. As the first vertical search experience for the automotive marketplace, MyRide.com delivers relevant, well-organized search results from across the web, integrated with entertaining multi-media and user-generated content on topics ranging from purchasing and aftermarket, to ownership and enthusiasm.
By providing a convenient and comprehensive automotive consumer experience across the purchase and ownership lifecycle, Autobytel provides new value and touch-points for automotive marketers. Through MyRide.com and Autobytel's marketing network, the company connects dealerships with a steady, diverse stream of exceptionally motivated, serious shoppers, while providing both dealers and manufacturers with precision-targeted brand and product marketing opportunities. The company's advanced web-based advertising and marketing programs also help dealers and manufacturers build relationships with customers, as well as help them to efficiently manage and convert online business.