LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. — Arkona Inc., a subsidiary of auto retail software maker DealerTrack Holdings Inc., announced that it has signed a multi-year contract with General Motors Corp. to offer integrated dealer management systems (IDMS) on behalf of GM to its nearly 6,700 franchised dealers in the U.S.

With the signing of this contract, which is effective immediately, DealerTrack becomes one of only four DMS systems providers endorsed under General Motors' IDMS program. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"We are pleased to welcome DealerTrack to our IDMS program, and to recommend the DealerTrack Arkona DMS to our dealers," said Bill Powell, vice president of industry-dealer affairs at GM. "The IDMS program provides our dealers a solution to integrate and more efficiently manage all aspects of dealership operations, including vehicle sales and inventory, parts and service, accounting, human resources and payroll, and contact management."

"We are delighted to be chosen by GM as an endorsed DMS provider as part of its IDMS technology initiative," said Mark O'Neil, chairman/CEO of DealerTrack. "This is another key milestone for DealerTrack, which recently signed its 1,000th DMS customer. This agreement opens up a wide range of growth opportunities for DealerTrack, including driving incremental sales of the DealerTrack Arkona DMS to GM dealers. We are excited to partner with GM and to offer their dealers a comprehensive and cost-effective Web-based solution."

DealerTrack's systems enable dealers to submit credit applications, compare financing and leasing options, sell insurance and accessories, and execute contracts electronically, among other things.