Kia Motors America, Inc. (KMA) on Sept. 15 announced it has selected The Cobalt Group as its exclusive Web site provider for its nationwide dealer network.

Powered by Cobalt's Nitra e-business platform, the Web site program will provide Kia with a new generation of e-business solutions to boost retailers' sales, profits and customer satisfaction, according to the companies. With Nitra, Kia and its dealers will be able to coordinate, manage and maintain their online retailing with a consistent brand experience for customers.

The Cobalt Group, a provider of e-business software and services to the automotive retail market, already partners with Kia for its national parts locator and Kia University, the company's national training program. The new Cobalt e-business program will be a key component of KMA's Circle of Excellence program, which will significantly improve the retail experience for Kia customers, according to Peter M. Butterfield, president and CEO of Kia Motors America, Inc.

"Kia.com now receives more than a million unique online visits from shoppers each month," Butterfield said. "Those visits result in a 40 percent higher likelihood of a dealership showroom visit -- the highest rate in the industry. Cobalt's program will further leverage Kia.com's phenomenal growth by providing these potential customers with direct links to dealer Web sites."

Retailers who join the Kia Web site Program will receive training from Cobalt. Each Kia dealer will have the capability of personalizing their site, right from their dealership, in order to showcase their unique services, qualities and customer benefits. Retailers will be required to limit the current model year vehicles displayed on their website to Kia exclusive products. The program also provides links to dealers from consumers who visit kia.com.

"The initiative will strengthen Kia brand consistency, increase new vehicle sales, promote dealer e-business practices, and deliver key reporting metrics," said John Holt, president and chief executive officer of The Cobalt Group. "Kia.com customers will benefit with an improved communication and shopping experience and enhanced dealer processes to improve customer satisfaction."

The program, now available to Kia retailers, is endorsed by Kia's Dealer Council.

About Cobalt Nitra

Cobalt's Nitra is an e-business platform for automotive retail. More than 3,500 dealerships and 15 OEM retail networks rely on Nitra to power their online automotive retailing programs on a daily basis.

The Nitra platform powers the OEM and dealer's online program by providing consumers with superior Web site performance, consistent reliability and flexible online content management and control for OEMs and dealers groups, resulting in a superior experience for the online shopper, according to Cobalt. Dealerships can also quickly access manufacturer and dealer group marketing content as well as manage and share dealer text and images.

About The Cobalt Group

The Cobalt Group (www.cobaltgroup.com) works exclusively in the automotive retail market developing integrated e-business programs designed to help manufacturers and dealers increase their profits and operational efficiencies.

Cobalt offers products and services including enterprise software; customer relationship management (CRM) applications; e-commerce applications; an OEM parts locating and marketing service; and e-business best practices training and consultation.

Cobalt's network includes 12,000 franchised dealers and more than 72 of the 100 largest dealer groups. Cobalt says it is the only software technology provider ever endorsed by 18 manufacturers and the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).

About Kia

Kia Motors America is the U.S. sales, marketing and service arm of Kia Motors Corp., headquartered in Seoul, Korea.

The full line of Kia models including the new, large size Amanti sedan (available November 2003), Sorento midsize SUV, Sedona minivan, Optima midsize sedan, Spectra compact sedan and five-door hatchback as well as the Rio subcompact sedan and Rio Cinco five-door wagon are available at more than 600 retailers nationwide.