Automotive News, Press Releases, and Events

ContactAtOnce! announced the launch of a sponsored blog in April 2009 aimed at auto dealers looking to use live chat software more effectively to sell cars. The post highlights that while IM and live chat had been used in other industries for years, adoption in automotive retail lagged due to a lack of dealer-specific solutions. The announcement signals growing integration of chat tools with major automotive platforms like Cars.com.

Dealix, a division of Cobalt, announced a major platform upgrade in March 2009 called Lead Platform 2009, designed to deliver higher quality leads to dealers faster than ever before. The key insight is that the upgrade eliminates the traditional trade-off between lead quality and speed of delivery by combining enhanced network architecture with additional data verification services. The thread appears to be a press release repost with no substantial dealer discussion or debate.

Jeff Kershner shared a free March 2009 webinar from PRWeb featuring TopRank Marketing CEO Lee Odden on using press releases to boost dealership SEO, noting that over 70 million people consume news online daily. Commenters debated whether the email was spam, shared interest in cost-effective PR distribution sites, and brainstormed dealership-specific press release ideas like new websites, fleet accounts, and promotional offers. The key takeaway is that dealerships should treat newsworthy events as SEO opportunities through strategic press release distribution.

A 2009 DealerRefresh announcement promotes a free webinar by Brian Pasch of Pasch Consulting Group covering dealer SEO, SEM, and social networking strategies. The thread draws largely positive responses from dealers and marketers who praise Pasch's results, though a skeptical commenter questions the authenticity of the testimonials, prompting Jeff Kershner to defend his moderation practices. The key takeaway is that Pasch had a strong reputation in automotive SEO at the time, with even a competitor acknowledging his firm's effectiveness.

EasyAutoSales.com announced its integration with Facebook Connect and the launch of a community platform designed to connect car buyers, dealers, and enthusiasts for peer-driven research and interaction. The press release highlights that 93% of consumers research online and read reviews well before browsing listings, positioning the community as a tool to help dealers engage educated buyers earlier in the purchase journey. The thread appears to be a straightforward press release drop with no additional dealer discussion visible.

Jeff Kershner promotes Ward's Automotive Spring Training Conference, scheduled for March 15-17, 2009 in Tampa, FL, framing it as a must-attend event during a turbulent time for the auto industry. Responses are minimal, with one attendee confirming plans to drive in from Florida's east coast and another expressing interest but noting a potential conflict with the Digital Dealer conference.

TK Carsites announced a licensing agreement with ContactAtOnce! in March 2009 to integrate live chat functionality directly into TK Carsites dealer websites. The partnership aimed to help auto dealers convert more website visitors into sales leads through real-time conversations. The combined solution was made available to both new and existing TK Carsites customers.

ActivEngage announced the release of a free eBook titled 'Seven Reasons Live Chat Fails,' aimed at helping auto dealers avoid common live chat pitfalls and improve lead generation from their websites. A reply from a dealer confirms live chat's value, citing years of positive results using a third-party provider for both live chat and click-to-talk services. The thread is largely promotional but touches on real dealer interest in managed chat solutions.

The thread centers on a Cars.com dealer profile of Alex Snyder, ecommerce director at Checkered Flag Motorcar Corp. in Virginia, who grew up in the family dealership and built a strong digital presence. Snyder joins the discussion to share insights on web traffic trends during the 2008-2009 downturn, noting a 12% drop in site traffic versus a steeper decline in showroom floor traffic, suggesting latent buyer demand. The conversation also touches on iMagicLab CRM, regional market differences, and a tangential rant about the future of finance departments.

Cobalt announced the launch of PowerDisplay, a turnkey online display advertising service built specifically for auto dealers, promising targeted impressions at 20-30% of traditional broadcast media costs. The thread covers the product's key value proposition: reaching local automotive shoppers at fractions of a penny per impression while integrating with a dealer's existing marketing stack. The post reads primarily as a press release with limited community discussion captured in the excerpt.

The thread covers Trader Corporation's announcement of a strategic partnership with Dealer.com, including a 20% equity stake and an exclusive long-term agreement to bring Dealer.com's web solutions to Canadian auto dealers through the AutoTrader brand. The single reply is a brief congratulatory note from someone in Burlington, Vermont, proud of the local company's growth. The thread is largely informational, with no substantive debate or analysis beyond the press release itself.

DealerTrack Holdings announced the acquisition of the AAX inventory management suite from JM Dealer Services, adding it to their existing InventoryPro solution. AAX, launched in 2002 and used by the nation's top six dealer groups, positions DealerTrack to offer what it claims is the industry's most complete inventory management offering. The thread covers the press release announcing the deal, signaling a significant consolidation in automotive retail software.

A 2009 press release shared on DealerRefresh highlights UK dealer group Cambria Automobiles using Contact At Once! live chat software to drive a 20% increase in overall dealership contacts during December 2008, with half of chat users ultimately visiting a showroom. The key insight is that live chat represented a meaningful incremental contact channel beyond phone and email, converting online visitors into physical store traffic even during a recession.

HomeNet, Inc. announced a new real-time pricing analysis tool added to their IOL Pro Vehicle Marketing Suite, drawing on a database of over 2.5 million vehicles to help dealers benchmark their inventory pricing. The tool is available immediately to existing IOL Pro subscribers at no additional cost. The thread appears to be a press release announcement with no follow-up dealer discussion captured.

AutoRevenue, a Dominion Enterprises division, announced the 2008 launch of @utoText, a hosted portal allowing dealerships to communicate with service customers via opt-in text messages for repair approvals, status updates, and appointment reminders. A forum reply highlighted that the tool addresses a real pain point: reaching customers who drop off vehicles and are difficult to contact for repair authorization, reducing costly delays and making upsell conversations less adversarial. The thread frames SMS communication as both a customer convenience and a dealer profitability tool.

The thread shares Cobalt Group's 2008 Automotive eShopper Experience Study, which evaluated how dealerships across 30 OEM brands respond to online shoppers. The study found meaningful improvement in the quality of the online consumer experience industry-wide, though from a historically low baseline. A notable highlight was Chevrolet's significant performance gains compared to prior years.

The thread announces a free Cars.com webinar scheduled for January 9th, 2009, focused on internet sales techniques to help dealers navigate the economic downturn. Presented by Ralph Ebersole, Cars.com's director of dealer training, the session drew from 150 dealer visits in 2008. An attendee reported the content was mostly basic — quality photos, response times, answering customer questions — useful for newcomers but little new ground for experienced internet dealers.

The thread shares a video of sales trainer Grant Cardone advocating for a tax credit for both dealers and consumers as part of an automotive bailout plan. Cardone himself joins the discussion to respond to a comment that initially seemed like criticism but turned out to be good-natured humor from a fan. The exchange ends amicably, with participants affirming their respect for Cardone's training and his willingness to use his platform to advocate for the industry.

Mazda announced a strategic shift away from underperforming third-party lead sources through its Mazda Dealer Online program, aiming to improve lead quality, reduce duplication, and help dealers use their budgets more efficiently. Replies note that other OEMs are watching similar metrics, while commenters debate lead pricing for independent dealers and whether Mazda can fill the gap with stronger direct traffic strategies. The key takeaway is that Mazda is positioning itself as an early mover in OEM-level accountability for third-party lead ROI.