DaimlerChrysler Canada announced November 7th additional steps in its comprehensive e-business strategy, including new, sophisticated online tools and easy consumer access to the Web sites of its Five Star dealers.

The business-to-consumer initiative creates a seamless Internet experience for consumers by integrating DaimlerChrysler Canada's Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brand Web sites with those of its Five Star dealers. The combination will allow for easier information gathering, from product features and financing to pricing, online service requests and a view of available vehicle inventory at their local Five Star dealerships.

Implemented by The Cobalt Group, a leading provider of e-business products and services to the automotive industry, the effort provides on-line services, customer relationship management capabilities, integrated Web sites and best practices training to the more than 200 DaimlerChrysler Canada Five Star retailers.

"This is the first major e-business initiative for DaimlerChrysler Canada's Five Star retailers and we are pleased to be working with The Cobalt Group, a proven leader in automotive e-business technology," said Bill Paterson, director, Canadian Retail Strategies, DaimlerChrysler Canada. "We've developed an integrated system that provides Five Star dealers with qualified leads from our brand sites as well as providing consumers online resources. This includes current pricing and incentives, along with new and used car inventories. These initiatives represent the next level of providing excellence in customer service."

"The partnership between DaimlerChrysler Canada, its Five Star retailers, and Cobalt provides a seamless transition between the DaimlerChrysler brand sites and the dealers' sites, resulting in an exceptional shopping experience for consumers," said Terry Smail, executive vice president of sales and account services for The Cobalt Group. "This initiative leverages the strength of the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands by providing highly qualified leads to DaimlerChrysler Canada's Five Star retailers. It also capitalizes on the retailing expertise of Five Star dealers, generating higher levels of sales and customer satisfaction."

DaimlerChrysler's Five Star program is an effort designed to continuously improve the way dealerships service customers by following a strict set of training, facility and process requirements. Five Star is the highest recognition DaimlerChrysler Canada can award a dealership for excellence in customer service.

"Today more than ever, consumers are faced with tough decisions and are shopping in an extremely competitive environment," said John Levasseur, senior manager, retail strategies, DaimlerChrysler Canada. "The DaimlerChrysler Five Star retailer stands out from the crowd by offering sales and service experts who have taken extra effort to build their business specifically around the customer. And now, Five Star dealers can offer consumers a user-friendly online resource, through www.daimlerchrysler.ca, to assist them through the entire shopping process."

Cobalt developed a customized suite of innovative customer-oriented tools for the DaimlerChrysler Canada Five Star e-business program including:

• "Get-A-Quote", a feature that enables customers to configure new vehicles, search for pre-owned vehicles, view detailed vehicle information and request a price quote on a specific car from a retailer.

  
  

• Customized dealer Web sites that introduce customers to the dealership and its available services.

  
  

• Searchable new and used vehicle inventory polled directly from dealership management systems.

  
  

• Online financing resources to help customers calculate payments, link to DaimlerChrysler Financial Services and research vehicle trade-in values on Canadian Black Book.

  
  

• Online service appointment requests.

  
  

  DaimlerChrysler Canada's Five Star retailers will also benefit from a range of Cobalt tools designed to help them successfully manage their online dealerships. Cobalt's "Auto Show" helps to easily update and manage online inventory listings and photos. The package also includes "TrafficReporter", a reporting tool that shows dealers the number of visitors to their site, which vehicles were searched and other key information. DaimlerChrysler Canada Five Star retailers have the backing of Cobalt's "eCare" technical advisors, offering assistance in both english and french, and a specialized Cobalt Field Service team offering in-dealership consulting on e-business marketing strategy and processes.