General Motors and America Online Announce Major Strategic Alliance
Industry Leaders Will Provide Consumers with Easy and Convenient Personalized Car-Shopping and Lifetime Ownership Experience Through the AOL Auto Channel
And 'My Auto'
DETROIT, and DULLES, Va., Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- General Motors (NYSE: GM), the world's largest industrial corporation and full-line vehicle manufacturer, and America Online (NYSE: AOL), the world's leading interactive services company, today announced a major strategic alliance designed to bring consumers the easiest and most convenient personalized car shopping and lifetime ownership experience.
America Online and GM will work together to develop new products and services to empower consumers to use the Internet and interact with dealers to buy automobiles and assist them throughout the entire ownership lifecycle online.
This strategic alliance with America Online marks a major step in online consumer marketing by General Motors and its dealer network. General Motors and AOL will work together to leverage AOL's newly redesigned Auto Channel across AOL's multiple brands. AOL's redesigned Auto Channel, launching later this year, will allow consumers to shop for cars and trucks the way they want, enabling AOL members and users of its other interactive brands to find, for example, the exact GM make and model vehicle they are looking for including options -- then complete the purchase at a nearby GM dealership.
The two companies will also explore future opportunities between OnStar, the leading in-vehicle safety and security information service provider, and popular AOL interactive features. Additionally, GM and AOL will work to expand their relationship outside the U.S. and GM will make AOL software available through various GM marketing channels.
In addition to working with GM to make it easier for consumers to find and purchase automobiles, this Spring America Online will launch My Auto, a new personalized auto destination. My Auto will provide unique features and functionality, including My Calendar, AOL's easy-to-use, personalized calendar to enable consumers to receive and maintain important news, dates and maintenance information about their car, including scheduling routine maintenance and repairs and extending personalization on the Internet to include a comprehensive car ownership experience.
Bob Pittman, America Online's President and Chief Operating Officer, said: "We are pleased that GM chose to work with America Online to make a major commitment to online consumer marketing. Together with GM, the world's largest full-line vehicle manufacturer, we will make the car-shopping experience easier and more convenient than ever. For the first time, AOL members can learn about new GM cars and special offers, immediately find the car they want from available inventory at a dealer near them and then buy it, enabling AOL and GM to deliver the most trusted, personalized automotive experience."
In 1999, more than 2 million consumers surfed the Internet for information to help them buy new cars, according to Forrester Research. That number is projected to quadruple to 8 million by 2003, with nearly half-a-million households using the Internet in connection with the purchase of cars and trucks, and generating $12 billion in revenues.
"Consumers today are increasingly turning to the Internet to make car shopping and ownership easier and more convenient," added Mr. Pittman. "Together with General Motors and its dealers across the country, we are confident that this alliance will offer consumers the best possible online experience in shopping for and maintaining their vehicles."
Mark Hogan, president e-GM, the e-commerce business unit of General Motors said: "This strategic alliance will help General Motors reach its goal of providing the consumer easy and convenient auto shopping experiences. We are confident that the combination of GM quality, personal service, and dealer relationships mixed with America Online's industry-leading interactive services and expertise, will increase the pool of internet-enabled shoppers and owners, and bring the full power of the Internet to auto shopping."
Phil Guarascio, General Motors vice president and general manager, advertising and corporate marketing said: "GM recognizes that the Internet is an increasingly important marketing and advertising medium and this alliance is the latest in our efforts to strategically market our products and deeply engage prospects. We are excited about our relationship with America Online and look forward to a success that will benefit both our companies, and, most of all, consumers."
About America Online, Inc.
Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies, and e-commerce services. America Online, Inc. operates: two worldwide Internet services, America Online, with more than 20 million members, and CompuServe, with more than 2.2 million members; several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Digital City, Inc.; the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals; the Netscape Navigator and Communicator browsers; AOL MovieFone, the nation's # 1 movie listing guide and ticketing service; and Spinner Networks and NullSoft, Inc., leaders in Internet music. Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the Company develops and offers easy-to-deploy, end-to-end e-commerce and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net Economy.
About e-GM
e-GM, a new business unit launched by General Motors in August 1999, seeks to integrate e-commerce efforts throughout GM's traditional business units and employ new technologies that will enhance the customer experience, while improving efficiency. e-GM leverages GM's core competencies in information technology, including Onstar, to create a new class of applications for vehicle, office and home. GM's home page URL: gm.com . |
