Cox Enterprises Inc.

AutoTrader.com Announces New Leadership at VinSolutions

Thu, 17 May 2012 17:30:00 -0400

VinSolutions President Mike Dullea to take on new role focused on product innovation across AutoTrader group of companies

May 17, 2012

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- VinSolutions, the industry leader in advanced software products for automotive dealerships, today announces that its president, Mike Dullea, has accepted a new position within the AutoTrader group of companies. In his new role, Mike will work with Chip Perry, president and CEO of AutoTrader.com, and Dale Pollak, founder of vAuto, on a new companywide product innovation team that will explore and develop new product opportunities across the AutoTrader group of companies.

AutoTrader.com executive, Brian Skutta has been named vice president and general manager of VinSolutions. Skutta is currently general manager of AutoTrader.com's Trade-In Marketplace (TIM) based in Atlanta, GA. His new role is effective immediately and he will report to Keith Jezek, president of vAuto who also assumes responsibility for VinSolutions.

"All of us at AutoTrader.com appreciate the hard work Mike Dullea did in building VinSolutions into an innovative force in the automotive dealer software space and for bringing VinSolutions into the AutoTrader family last year. Mike led the development and rapid growth of VinSolutions into a leader and supplier of cutting edge software products that have had a major impact on the way our customers manage their dealerships," said Chip Perry, president and CEO of AutoTrader.com. "We recognize Mike's passion for innovation, and at AutoTrader.com, we too, have always been focused on innovation. Mike's expanded new role will help ensure that we are exploring new product innovation opportunities across the AutoTrader group of companies."

Mike Dullea stated, "I am very excited about this new opportunity working closely with Dale at vAuto, as well as Chip, to develop new and innovative products that ultimately benefit the automotive industry. My passion has always been to innovate and create powerful solutions for dealers. I am looking forward to continuing to expand this innovation to the AutoTrader group of companies in order to create new product solutions that leverage powerful technology platforms and benefit the industry. I am leaving VinSolutions in good hands, and I will continue to be part of the AutoTrader group of companies."

"Keith has been very successful at running vAuto's business, and there are many natural synergies and linkages that can be replicated at VinSolutions to continue its focus on growth," said Perry. "Brian is a strong leader who understands the marketing and operational needs of auto dealers as well as consumer behavior in the car buying process. Keith and Brian will focus on maintaining the company's innovative drive to provide automotive dealers with products that help them operate more efficiently and tap into exciting new marketing opportunities created by the integration of dealership websites, desking tools and CRM systems. They also will champion collaboration efforts between VinSolutions and the other companies in the AutoTrader family."

Keith Jezek has over 20 years of experience in executive management with high technology firms, having held key leadership positions with ADP, Digital Motorworks, LP, Travelogix and Tallard BV. Under Jezek, vAuto experienced unprecedented growth and was named to the Inc. 500 list as one of the nation's fastest-growing, privately held companies in America. Jezek received his B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Austin and his MBA in Finance from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.

Skutta joined AutoTrader.com in 2002 and has held positions of increasing responsibility in several areas of the company including dealer sales, national sales, private seller and business development. Skutta currently leads AutoTrader.com's Trade-In Marketplace business. Prior to working at AutoTrader.com, Skutta held positions in finance and operations at IBM and MCI WorldCom. He holds a B.S. in Finance from Auburn University.

About AutoTrader.com
Atlanta-based AutoTrader.com, created in 1997, is the Internet's ultimate automotive marketplace and consumer information website. AutoTrader.com aggregates in a single location millions of new cars, used cars and certified pre-owned cars from thousands of auto dealers and private sellers and is a leading online resource for auto dealers, individuals and manufacturers to advertise and market their vehicles to in-market shoppers. The company also provides a robust suite of software tools for dealers and manufacturers to help them manage and market their vehicle inventory and display advertising on the Internet. AutoTrader.com continues to grow key business metrics, including revenue, profitability and site traffic. Today, AutoTrader.com attracts millions of unique monthly visitors who utilize the site to review descriptions, photos and videos of vehicles for sale; research and compare vehicles; review pricing and specials; and read auto-related content like buying and selling tips and editorial coverage of major auto shows and automotive trends. AutoTrader.com operates one other auto marketing brand, AutoTraderClassics.com. AutoTrader.com also owns used vehicle management software company vAuto, Kelley Blue Book (Kbb.com), HomeNet Automotive, a leading provider of online inventory management and merchandising solutions for the automotive retail industry and VinSolutions, a leading provider of end-to-end solution platforms for dealers. AutoTrader.com is a majority-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. Providence Equity Partners is a 25 percent owner of the company and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is also an investor. For more information, please visit www.autotrader.com.

About VinSolutions
VinSolutions, headquartered in Overland Park, KS, consolidates data from all areas of an automotive dealership helping dealers to find, sell and keep customers more profitably with their fully-integrated "Dealership Marketing System." VinSolutions' all-in-one internal management and external sales and service marketing solution platform includes search marketing, online advertising, social media marketing tools, mobile marketing, websites, ILM (Internet Lead Management), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), sales force automation, desking, appraisal, finance, used vehicle marketing and market pricing, inventory management and distribution, window stickers, automated video tours, loyalty management and targeted marketing with email, text, direct mail and telemarketing services. This cloud-based system is available for large dealer groups and individual dealerships from anywhere an Internet connection is available and can be viewed from any Smartphone including BlackBerry, Google DROID and iPhone. VinSolutions' Dealership Marketing Solution is installed by their implementation experts and supported by best practice retail strategy consultation, process training and customer care.

VinSolutions was named on the Inc. 500|5000 in 2010 and 2011 and has received many industry accolades including the Automotive Website Award for Best Integrated Website Platform and the Driving Sales Innovation Cup for VinLens™. VinSolutions is OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) certified by GM, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, Hyundai, Acura, Mazda, Toyota, Subaru, Volkswagen, Audi, Volvo, Kia, Mitsubishi, Infiniti, Jaguar Land Rover North America, Mercedes-Benz USA and Nissan and is ADP, Reynolds & Reynolds and DealerTrack DMS (Dealer Management System) certified. Other alliances include, but are not limited to, Kelley Blue Book, Black Book, Galves, NADA, CARFAX, R.L. Polk, AIS Rebates, KnowMe, AutoSoft, Arkona, Autodata and RouteOne. Founded in 2006, VinSolutions became a subsidiary of AutoTrader.com in 2011.

SOURCE AutoTrader.com

Manheim Moves Two Leaders Into New Roles As Part of Continuing Focus on Serving Customers

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:37:24 -0400

Positions Support Manheim’s Approach to Serving Customers Anytime and Anywhere

Atlanta
May 17, 2012

As part of the company’s continuing focus on serving customers, regardless of which Manheim channels they use, Manheim has moved two leaders into new roles. Rick Pomeroy, vice president of national client sales support, and Erik Kibler, general sales manager, major dealer, are both now responsible for key organizations that focus on serving customers’ needs anytime and anywhere.

Pomeroy, now reporting to Nick Peluso, senior vice president of customer management, is leading the newly-formed National Client Sales Support team that supports Manheim’s National Commercial Account and Major Dealer groups. This team brings together Manheim’s in-lane and online expertise to support the needs of all the company’s national clients, both commercial and dealer, and to continue to assist with driving the evolution of effective selling solutions. Kibler, now reporting to Susie Heins, vice president of dealer sales, will lead Manheim’s Major Dealer team and will work to grow sales efforts, extend financing opportunities and develop deeper integration of the company’s consulting services for Manheim’s key dealer customers.

“Manheim is committed to serving customers the way they want to be served, whether they do business with us in-lane or online,” said Peluso. “Having Rick, Erik and their teams focused in these areas is a key part of how we will deliver on this commitment and help customers do business anytime and anywhere.”

Pomeroy joined Manheim in 1986 and has held a variety of management positions of increasing responsibility within the Finance, Operations and Digital groups. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Franklin University. Kibler joined Manheim in 2005 and most recently served as senior director of consulting & analytics with Manheim Consulting. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in management information systems from Oklahoma State University.

About Manheim (www.manheim.com)

Manheim is the world’s leading provider of vehicle remarketing services. Through its 113 worldwide wholesale operating locations and digital services, Manheim influences every stage of a used vehicle’s life cycle, helping commercial sellers and automobile dealers maximize the full value of their vehicles. Drawing from its auction transaction volume, Manheim Consulting publishes the annual Used Car Market Report, the definitive source of data for the used car industry. Manheim Consulting offers a wide range of services including custom analytics, business optimization and macro economic analysis.

Manheim is the online vehicle remarketing leader, connecting buyers and sellers to the world’s largest, most comprehensive wholesale marketplace through its extensive in-lane and digital offerings. Manheim.com receives nearly 900,000 visits each week.

Additionally, Manheim offers services including reconditioning, certification, inspections, dealer financing, title management and marshaling, among others. Through its wide array of services and technologies, industry publications, customer support and educational offerings, Manheim gives its customers maximum control over how they buy and sell vehicles, helping them to conduct business in the most efficient way possible. Worldwide, the company handles nearly 8 million used vehicles annually, facilitating transactions worth more than $50 billion in value.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Manheim is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, a leading communications, media and automotive services company.

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AutoTrader.com Mobile App Downloads Surpass One Million

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:40:46 -0400

In less than one year, the combined number of downloads for AutoTrader.com's iPhone and Android apps surpassed key milestone.

May 16, 2012

ATLANTA, May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoTrader.com, the ultimate automotive marketplace, surpassed a major milestone with its mobile apps for iPhone and Android devices: one million downloads. Available for less than one year, combined original downloads of these apps (not including downloads of app updates) hit the one-million mark on Monday, May 14, 2012. The iPhone app, launched in June 2011, accounts for 73 percent of the AutoTrader.com mobile app audience, while the Android app, which was launched in October 2011, accounts for the remaining 27 percent.

The AutoTrader.com mobile apps for iPhone and Android are designed to create a powerful and personalized mobile car shopping experience. With these apps, shoppers can find cars and dealers near them, utilize location-based features and access everything they need to find the car that their hearts and minds can agree on — right at their fingertips.

"With our mobile apps, our objective is to create a ubiquitous experience for car shoppers on the go, and the rate of adoption and usability trends of our apps is proof that users are finding them valuable," said Jose Ignacio Puente, director of product strategy for mobile. "We pay close attention to user feedback and improve our products to ensure that they are getting an optimum AutoTrader.com mobile experience."

The core functionality of the AutoTrader.com apps on both the iPhone and Android platforms helps users search and save vehicles throughout the car shopping process. However, the apps offer much more to achieve that powerful and personalized experience. With either app, users can:

Search for new, used and certified cars near them.
Scan the VIN barcode of a car to search for similar cars nearby, or save the car to search for later.
Contact a seller by phone or email directly from a vehicle listing.
Map local dealerships and view dealer services and amenities.
Use Keyword Search to find vehicles and specific dealer services and amenities near them.
Create a free My AutoTrader account to save favorite cars and searches.
Access saved cars and searches from any other mobile device or computer.
Revisit recent searches and vehicles viewed right from the Find Cars section.

In particular, the ability to save searches and vehicles to a user's My AutoTrader account has proven to be a well adopted feature of the mobile offerings. With a free My AutoTrader account, shoppers can save searches as well as individual vehicles, which they can access quickly and easily from any device with an Internet connection — via a computer, the AutoTrader.com mobile site on any smart phone or the AutoTrader.com iPhone or Android apps, creating a seamless experience between devices. By saving information, users can quickly see a list of cars they're interested in or run the same search without having to re-enter their criteria.

As more and more shoppers turn to their mobile devices, AutoTrader.com has seen a continued increase in traffic through its mobile properties, from the iPhone app, Android app and mobile site (m.autotrader.com). Mobile car shopping activity spikes in the evenings and on the weekends, when users are more likely to be away from their primary computers. In addition to the My AutoTrader feature, functionality such as the VIN Scanner and location-based features enable shoppers to locate vehicles and dealers near them, further helping smooth the transition from shopping on a desktop to shopping while on-the-go.

Both apps can be downloaded for free. iPhone users can click here to download the AutoTrader.com app from the App Store, and Android users can click here to download the app from Google Play.

About AutoTrader.com
Atlanta-based AutoTrader.com, created in 1997, is the Internet's ultimate automotive marketplace and consumer information website. AutoTrader.com aggregates in a single location millions of new cars, used cars and certified pre-owned cars from thousands of auto dealers and private sellers and is a leading online resource for auto dealers, individuals and manufacturers to advertise and market their vehicles to in-market shoppers. The company also provides a robust suite of software tools for dealers and manufacturers to help them manage and market their vehicle inventory and display advertising on the Internet. AutoTrader.com continues to grow key business metrics, including revenue, profitability and site traffic. Today, AutoTrader.com attracts millions of unique monthly visitors who utilize the site to review descriptions, photos and videos of vehicles for sale; research and compare vehicles; review pricing and specials; and read auto-related content like buying and selling tips and editorial coverage of major auto shows and automotive trends. AutoTrader.com operates one other auto marketing brand, AutoTraderClassics.com. AutoTrader.com also owns used vehicle management software company vAuto, Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com), HomeNet Automotive, a leading provider of online inventory management and merchandising solutions for the automotive retail industry and VinSolutions, a leading provider of end-to-end solution platforms for dealers. AutoTrader.com is a majority-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. Providence Equity Partners is a 25 percent owner of the company and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is also an investor. For more information, please visit www.autotrader.com.

SOURCE AutoTrader.com

High Gas Prices Make Now a Good Time to Buy a Full-Size or Midsize SUV

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:42:00 -0400

Shopper Insights from the AutoTrader.com Trend Engine show that high gas prices have lessened demand for full-size and midsize SUVs, making now a good time to find a deal on new models of these larger vehicles

May 15, 2012

ATLANTA, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As gas prices remain high, now is a good time to buy a large SUV, according to the recent Shoppers Insights report from the AutoTrader.com Trend Engine. In a tracking study conducted by AutoTrader.com, 66 percent of new-car shoppers indicated that they are more likely to consider a more fuel-efficient vehicle due to high gas prices, and shopping activity on the AutoTrader.com site confirms that interest in full-size and midsize SUVs has declined. Less demand for larger vehicles typically relates to more available incentives.

"Automakers have a higher need to offer deals on vehicles that are less in demand to move them off dealer lots, so there's a connection between shopper interest in particular vehicles and the number of available incentives," said Rick Wainschel, vice president of automotive insights at AutoTrader.com. "Because of today's high gas prices, shoppers are showing significantly more interest in smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, so there are more deals to be had on larger vehicles like SUVs."

Since the beginning of the year, views for new full-size SUVs are down 29 percent, and views for new midsize SUVs are down 11 percent. This lower demand for larger SUVs means better deals are likely to be available. In looking at the most popular full-size and midsize SUVs on AutoTrader.com in April, this is certainly the case. All five of the most-viewed new full-size SUVs on AutoTrader.com currently offer incentives, and the same is true for the five most-viewed midsize SUVs.

Most-Viewed Full-Size SUVs	Most-Viewed Midsize SUVs
1. Chevrolet Tahoe	1. Jeep Wrangler
2. Dodge Durango	2. Jeep Grand Cherokee
3. Chevrolet Suburban	3. Ford Explorer
4. Ford Expedition	4. Chevrolet Equinox
5. GMC Yukon	5. Ford Edge

"Though it may seem counterintuitive for people to shop for large SUVs at a time when gas prices are high, the simple truth is that the smaller vehicles, which tend to be more fuel-efficient just won't cut it for some shoppers," added Brian Moody, site editor for AutoTrader.com. "We recommend that people define their vehicle needs first to decide what type of vehicle they need, and then choose the right model within that segment. For people who need extra cargo capacity or space to accommodate larger families, now is a great time for those shoppers to purchase a large SUV."

Click here to view a snapshot of these Shopper Insights from the AutoTrader.com Trend Engine.

About AutoTrader.com

Atlanta-based AutoTrader.com, created in 1997, is the Internet's ultimate automotive marketplace and consumer information website. AutoTrader.com aggregates in a single location millions of new cars, used cars and certified pre-owned cars from thousands of auto dealers and private sellers and is a leading online resource for auto dealers, individuals and manufacturers to advertise and market their vehicles to in-market shoppers. The company also provides a robust suite of software tools for dealers and manufacturers to help them manage and market their vehicle inventory and display advertising on the Internet. AutoTrader.com continues to grow key business metrics, including revenue, profitability and site traffic. Today, AutoTrader.com attracts millions of unique monthly visitors who utilize the site to review descriptions, photos and videos of vehicles for sale; research and compare vehicles; review pricing and specials; and read auto-related content like buying and selling tips and editorial coverage of major auto shows and automotive trends. AutoTrader.com operates one other auto marketing brand, AutoTraderClassics.com. AutoTrader.com also owns used vehicle management software company vAuto, Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com), HomeNet Automotive, a leading provider of online inventory management and merchandising solutions for the automotive retail industry and VinSolutions, a leading provider of end-to-end solution platforms for dealers. AutoTrader.com is a majority-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. Providence Equity Partners is a 25 percent owner of the company and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is also an investor. For more information, please visit www.autotrader.com.

SOURCE AutoTrader.com

Manheim Hosts National Client Advisory Board Meeting

Mon, 14 May 2012 09:41:42 -0400

Two-Day Event Offered Key Remarketing Insights, Future Trends and an Interactive Experience for Customers

Atlanta
May 14, 2012

To share where the company is headed and how its top national customers can take advantage of its products and services, Manheim hosted a two-day meeting on May 9-10 at the Ritz Carlton in Greensboro, Ga. Several Manheim leaders including Sandy Schwartz, president; Janet Barnard, executive vice president and chief operating officer; Nick Peluso, senior vice president of customer management; and Tom Webb, chief economist delivered business updates, discussed industry trends and shared new remarketing techniques that can create greater efficiencies for Manheim customers.

“Our goal was to provide a collaborative, interactive and value-added session for these top Manheim customers – one that would allow attendees to learn about Manheim’s future direction, give them hands-on experience with our products, and show them the work underway to simplify their experience with us,” said Barnard. “I was so delighted to see so many of our customers asking questions, sharing their perspectives and having fun.”

Client Advisory Board (CAB) attendees were treated to a variety of informative presentations and several interactive break-out sessions, including the first-ever product fair, where customers could “play” with Manheim’s latest digital and in-lane product innovations. The company’s product managers were on hand to answer customer questions, listen to their ideas and use customer input to enhance the overall customer experience. Breakout sessions also showed customers how they can better use Manheim’s data as a strategic advantage to simplify their business, as well as increase their access to digital and in-lane channels and tools.

“The focus of this year’s CAB event was to share our future business strategies with our customers, listen to their feedback and get thoughts on ways Manheim can deliver solutions to help them succeed,” said Peluso. “We’ve been hosting this event for 15 years and it’s all about being on the same page with our customers and delivering bottom-line results.”

Dale Pollak, founder of vAuto and best-selling author, explained how his state-of-the-art Provisioning tool helps vehicle retailers more efficiently find, price and remarket inventory. He also showed customers how managing inventory more effectively with the Provisioning tool can lead to generating the highest possible returns with the least possible risk.

About Manheim (www.manheim.com)

Headquartered in Atlanta, Manheim is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, a leading communications, media and automotive services company.

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