Cobalt Group Signs Agreement with Kelley Blue Book to Offer Dealers New- and Used-Car Pricing for Websites

The Cobalt Group, a provider of e-business products and services to the automotive industry, has signed a new agreement with Kelley Blue Book, an Internet source for new- and used-car value-pricing reports.

Under the agreement, Cobalt will offer Kelley Blue Book's PriceLink online appraisal service for new and used vehicles to its automotive dealer clients, enabling dealers to provide complete vehicle pricing directly on their Websites rather than transferring consumers to the Kelley Website. Previously, Cobalt offered a version of PriceLink that only included used-car prices.

"Through this new agreement with Kelley Blue Book, Cobalt is helping auto dealers keep consumers on their Websites by providing the information online shoppers want most: accurate new and used vehicle prices," said John Holt, president and CEO of The Cobalt Group. "Kelley Blue Book's PriceLink is a valuable tool, from a trusted source, that helps Cobalt build one-stop, full-service online dealerships for our dealer customers."

The PriceLink appraisal service guides car owners through a virtual walk-around of their vehicles and asks them to provide detailed information about every aspect of their vehicle, including mileage, a checklist of the vehicle's features, an evaluation of the vehicle's condition (with an optional 27-question appraisal form), and the consumer's zip code. Using this information, PriceLink provides an accurate review of the vehicle and its trade-in and retail values. Consumers can also look up invoice and MSRP pricing for new cars they are considering. Dealers are able to display any combination of pre-owned values (retail and trade-in) and new-vehicle values (MSRP and invoice).

"Through Cobalt's large dealer network, millions of online car shoppers will have more convenient access to Blue Book, America's most requested vehicle pricing information," said Stephen Henson, vice president of marketing and business development for Kelley Blue Book. "The addition of PriceLink to Cobalt dealer Websites increases consumer confidence in new and pre-owned vehicle purchase decisions, while keeping them in close contact with their preferred dealer."

The PriceLink appraisal service is available to all Cobalt dealer customers.

For more information on The Cobalt Group, visit www.cobaltgroup.com or call 800/909-8244.

For more information on Kelley Blue Book, visit www.kbb.com.