CarsDirect.com, a multi-brand online car buying service, says it plans to offer the 30 million consumers who will purchase a previously owned vehicle during the next year a new online experience.

The company announced Feb. 6 that it will introduce a used-car sales channel to complement its two new-car online buying services. The used-car service will help consumers research, locate and purchase quality used cars from a national network of leading dealerships, "all with the same superior level of convenience and speed that CarsDirect.com new-car buyers already enjoy," according to Wendy Barbour, vice president of public relations at CarsDirect.com.

To lay the foundation for this expansion, CarsDirect.com also announced the extension of its strategic partnership with automotive industry technology provider Reynolds and Reynolds. Reynolds will provide CarsDirect.com with technology integration, dealership training and operational support for the used-car channel.

CarsDirect.com plans on unveiling its new Used Car channel as well as a significantly expanded Research Center by April 2002.

"Consecutive record-breaking new-car sales during the past few years have created the largest used-car market in the history of the automotive industry," said Bob Brisco, CEO, CarsDirect.com. "To help consumers make the most of this unprecedented range of used vehicle choices, we're pleased to debut the same superior level of fast, one-stop shopping convenience as thousands of CarsDirect.com new car customers already experience each and every day."

"We're pleased to extend the Reynolds relationship with CarsDirect.com to another innovative product," said Greg Collins, Reynolds senior vice president. "CarsDirect.com is addressing the needs of an entirely new segment of the car buying public with its new service. We're proud of the strong integration, training and support that we will provide to make it possible."

According to Brisco, CarsDirect.com's used-car buying service will also include a significantly expanded online research center with a number of research and comparison tools that will be added as part of a phased rollout in Q2. Brisco said these new features will give used car shoppers power to quickly research, evaluate, locate, finance and buy a used car online -- a preference that shows no signs of slowing down, according to the 2001 J.D. Power and Associates Used Autoshopper.com Study(SM). According to the study, 43 percent of all used-vehicle buyers already use the Web as part of the purchase process -- a strong 27 percent increase over 2000.

"Providing a seamless and enjoyable online buying experience to consumers has been the hallmark of CarsDirect.com since the company's debut in May 1999," Barbour said. "With the addition of a used-car channel, CarsDirect.com visitors have three distinctive car buying options to choose from: buying a new car online through the company's award-winning direct service; being matched with a top-quality new car dealer of their choice via the CarsDirect Connect service; or locating and purchasing a used car through the used-car channel."

These three car buying channels are equally attractive to CarsDirect.com's 3,000 plus dealer partners, according to Barbour, who said the company's dealer partners not only benefit from delivering thousands of incremental sales to CarsDirect.com customers, "but they gain loyal, lifelong customers who profess an astonishing 98 percent customer satisfaction rate."

CarsDirect.com launched its original, direct online car buying channel in May of 1999. With the November addition of CarsDirect.com's second new-car buying channel -- called CarsDirect Connect -- retailers gained unprecedented opportunity to promote their premium services directly to the most qualified buyers found on any automotive Web site.

"CarsDirect.com's used-car buying service will provide dealers yet another alternative to reach out to additional qualified car buyers," Barbour said.

Dedicated Technology Partner a Critical Component of Successful Launch

To provide technology support for its used-car service, CarsDirect.com has again turned to technology provider Reynolds and Reynolds. Reynolds and Reynolds will extend technology integration, dealer training and operational support through its Automark Web Services group, according to Brisco.

"Just as we collaborate with the country's best dealers, we choose business partners who have the same appreciation for quality and service we pride ourselves on," said Bob Brisco. "The complexity of our business' back end must always be transparent to our customers, and partners like Reynolds and Reynolds ensure that we meet this objective."

About CarsDirect.com

Los Angeles-based CarsDirect.com (www.carsdirect.com) is a multi-brand online car buying service, providing new automobiles and related products and services, such as loan and lease financing and in-demand aftermarket products including extended warranties.

CarsDirect.com offers upfront pricing to consumers, who can research, price, order, purchase, insure and finance a vehicle online via a Web site that offers product information for nearly every make, model and style of new automobile available in the United States today.

In November 2001, CarsDirect.com introduced CarsDirect Connect(TM), a new online buying process that offers consumers who prefer face-to-face dealer interaction the option of being matched with a top quality local dealer of their choice.