The American International Auto Dealers Association (AIADA), which represents more than 10,000 franchised automobile retailers in the United States, and ExpressLink, a provider

of auto insurance to auto dealerships, on March 28 announced a marketing partnership in California.

AIADA and ExpressLink said they'll work closely to bring ExpressLink’s online insurance solution to California auto dealerships, where AIADA has more than 1,000 members. AIADA is joining forces with ExpressLink as part of a broader campaign to encourage dealerships to leverage technology to improve sales and customer service.

“In an era of consolidation and stiffer competition, continual innovation is essential for dealers,” said Walter E. Huizenga, president of AIADA. “ExpressLink’s online insurance platform is an elegant example of how technology can solve a long-standing problem. By deploying technology like ExpressLink’s, dealers can increase sales and enhance customer service – the goal of every dealership in America.”

“ExpressLink’s technology enables dealers to sell more vehicles by transforming the existing process of securing insurance into a seamless, 90-second transaction that simplifies everyone’s life,” said Phil Barry, CEO of ExpressLink. “ExpressLink is delighted to work with AIADA to carry the message that innovation is one of the critical components of success in today’s competitive new landscape.”

“The Board of Directors of AIADA has unanimously agreed to endorse the services of ExpressLink as a leader in a process that simplifies the acquisition of auto insurance for retail customers, while providing superior customer satisfaction results,” Huizenga said. “While the services of ExpressLink are primarily in California, they now have the ability to rapidly expand to other markets within the U.S.”

About ExpressLink Inc.

ExpressLink says it provides automobile retailers the ability to efficiently increase profitability by accessing an integrated group of financial services and aftermarket products via a proprietary online network.

By offering a suite of dealer products, ExpressLink says it is positioned to capture a large share of this historically fragmented $15 billion market.

ExpressLink sells its products in North America through its strategic alliance with Computerized Vehicle Registration (CVR), a joint venture of the Dealers Services Group of Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) and Reynolds & Reynolds. Together, ADP and Reynolds & Reynolds supply dealership management systems for more than 15,000 automotive dealerships in North America.

ExpressLink’s lead product, Insure Express, is currently the leading point-of-sale auto insurance product in the industry, selling more than 70,000 policies annually.

In addition to insurance, ExpressLink’s line of products includes extended service contracts, credit life, GAP insurance, vehicle appearance protection, and auto security systems.

ExpressLink is headquartered in Encino, Calif. For more information, contact ExpressLink at (800) 373-5057, or www.explink.com.

About AIADA

AIADA is the lobbying and communications force in Washington, D.C. for the 10,000 American automobile dealerships that sell and service international nameplate brands Acura, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Daewoo, Ferrari, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Saab, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.

These retailers have a positive economic impact both nationally and in the local communities they serve, providing for nearly 420,000 American jobs, according to AIADA.

AIADA says the competitive market fueled by the international automobile has produced safer, more fuel-efficient vehicles with greater quality, value and a multitude of features that benefit the American consumer. As a result, U.S. consumers enjoy the freedom to choose from among a wide array of vehicles to meet their transportation needs.

Visit AIADA online at www.aiada.org.