More than 2,200 Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge Five Star dealers have the tools they need to compete on the Internet as a result of a partnership between The Cobalt Group and the Chrysler Group.

The launch of the Five Star dealer e-business program, which began rolling out nationwide last August, was recently completed with the launch of the Syracuse, N.Y., zone in March.

The Cobalt Group, a provider of e-business products and services to the automotive industry, provides e-business tools, customer relationship management capabilities, integrated Web sites and best practices training to all Five Star dealers as part of the program.

"Partnering with our dealers is at the heart of the Five Star program and we think this is the winning model for online auto retailing," said Gary E. Dilts, Chrysler Group senior vice president - sales. "The Five Star dealer e-business program provides our dealers with close integration with our corporate site and the finest e-business tools available which enable them to do what they do best, sell vehicles and provide outstanding service to customers."

"This is the largest dealer-manufacturer e-business program Cobalt has launched in our six-year history and we think it is an excellent example of a true collaboration between a manufacturer and its dealer network," said John Holt, president and CEO of The Cobalt Group. "We have long believed that manufacturers and dealers who have the right tools and work together will be the clear winners on the Internet. DaimlerChrysler has embraced this model and we will work closely with DaimlerChrysler and Five Star dealers to ensure they have the tools and training to succeed in the Internet economy."

Cobalt's technology provides DaimlerChrysler and its Five Star dealers integration between the manufacturer brand sites and dealer sites, creating a strong online presence for the automaker. Consumers who visit Chrysler.com, 4adodge.com or jeepunpaved.com can research vehicles, configure a new car, and then link to a local dealer's site to locate the exact vehicle they want, request a quote and schedule a test drive via email. The new vehicle listings include detailed descriptions of options, MSRP, and photos.

To help shoppers with their purchase decision, the sites also include a payment calculator, used-car trade-in values from Kelley Blue Book, and a link to ChryslerFinancial.com where shoppers can complete a secure online car loan application.

Cobalt provides Five Star dealers Web site development and hosting, searchable new and used vehicle databases, and online inventory management and traffic reporting tools so they can easily market their vehicles online and measure their sites' effectiveness. Each site is customized with dealership information, interactive hours and directions, and a service request email form allowing customers to schedule service appointments online.

Only Five Star dealers with Cobalt-built Web sites receive leads from the manufacturer brand sites. An integral part of the Five Star dealer e-business program is best practices training. Prior to and during the nationwide launch, Cobalt's team of Chrysler Field Service Consultants conducted in-dealership training sessions with every dealer.

"Ultimately the goal of the Five Star dealer e-business program is to make finding, buying and maintaining vehicles online easier for our customers," said Dilts.

About The Cobalt Group

The Cobalt Group™, headquartered in Seattle, Wash., is a leading provider of e-business products and services designed to help automotive dealers and manufacturers effectively manage their businesses online.

Cobalt's suite of e-business solutions includes Web services, Web site hosting, e-commerce applications, Internet-based customer relationship management applications, data management, and best practices training and consulting.

Nearly half of the nation's auto dealers use Cobalt's technology, including 8,500 Web services clients, and approximately 9,300 PartsVoice® (www.partsvoice.com) clients. Cobalt's e-business products and services are endorsed by 15 automotive manufacturers and more than 50 of the 100 largest dealer groups in the United States. Cobalt is the only e-business provider endorsed by the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).

Cobalt operates MotorPlace.com™ (www.MotorPlace.com), an online business management and industry information resource for auto dealers. At MotorPlace.com, dealers utilize Cobalt tools to manage their Web sites, buy wholesale used vehicles through MotorPlace Auto Exchange, locate and market OEM parts, purchase leads through Pick-or-Pass, and access industry information, news, events, and stock quotes.

Cobalt also operates DealerNet® (www.dealernet.com), one of the most widely visited consumer automotive information portals on the Web. IntegraLink Corporation, a Cobalt company, is the auto industry's premier provider of automotive data collection and reporting services.

Cobalt has offices in Seattle, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; Detroit, Mich.; Columbus, Ohio; and Austin, Texas.

For more information, visit www.cobaltgroup.com or call (800) 909-8244.

About DaimlerChrysler

The Chrysler Group is the business unit of DaimlerChrysler AG responsible for the design, engineering, manufacture and sale the Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge brands of cars and trucks.

For more information, visit www.daimlerchrysler.com.

The DaimlerChrysler Five Star Dealer program recognizes dealerships that operate at the highest levels of customer satisfaction by employing trained and satisfied people and utilizing consistent, customer-focused sales, service and parts processes. In addition, Five Star dealers engage in comprehensive customer follow up to determine satisfaction with the sales and service experience.