The Cobalt Group, a provider of e-business products and services to the automotive industry, announced on Oct. 1 the launch of an all-new e-business program for Lexus that gives Lexus dealers tools to create and manage their Lexus-endorsed Web sites.
Cobalt says it developed the e-business tools to give Lexus dealers more flexibility and control over their Web sites while at the same time to provide consistent brand identity for Lexus across its dealer network and ensure a seamless consumer shopping experience between Lexus.com and the Lexus dealer sites.
A key component of the program is eDealer Site Manager, a custom solution that Cobalt developed for Lexus, that allows Lexus dealers to manage their Web sites in real time. Lexus says it is the first manufacturer to utilize this tool, and this marks the first time in the automotive industry that dealers have been able to make real-time changes directly to their sites, according to Cobalt.
eDealer Site Manager enables dealers to edit copy and meta tags, change images, and customize e-mail forms on key areas of their sites and then publish those changes instantly from their desktops, according to Cobalt. eDealer Site Manager also makes it possible for dealers to enhance their online vehicle listings and display up to two vehicle photos on the revamped Lexus pre-owned vehicle search section.
Lexus was one of the first manufacturers to get all of its dealers onto the Internet, launching its first dealer Internet program with Cobalt all the way back in 1996.
"The new Lexus dealer program demonstrates that Lexus continues to be at the forefront of e-business technology and that their dealers are important partners in their Internet strategy," said Amy Anderson, senior strategic communications manager for The Cobalt Group. "Additionally, all Lexus dealers have gone through Cobalt's eDealer Academy training program and are armed with the knowledge and skills to execute a successful e-business program."
"The Lexus dealer e-business program builds the Lexus presence online in two important ways," said Robin Pisz, Lexus national interactive manager. "It enhances the customer experience by offering expanded features and a more seamless transition between Lexus.com and dealer Web sites. And by giving dealers powerful tools to manage their Web site content and design, customers can gain a better idea about the unique value proposition and offerings of each Lexus dealership. We are particularly pleased to continue our partnership with The Cobalt Group -- together we've brought Lexus dealers a series of exciting innovations since we started working together in 1996 and we're pleased to be the first manufacturer to implement Cobalt's eDealer Site Manager."
"eDealer Site Manager is the direct result of the input we received from Lexus and Lexus dealers," said Terry Smail, executive vice president of sales and account services for The Cobalt Group. "Lexus dealers understand that Lexus.com is an increasingly valuable source of high-quality leads, but they also want the ability to customize their online presence. eDealer Site Manager provides dealers with advanced content management tools and an impressive range of customizable features that have never been available to the industry before, giving Lexus dealers flexibility and creativity over their Web presence and a competitive advantage."
According to Smail, the Lexus dealer e-business program offers dealers all of the tools they need to effectively manage their e-businesses, including Cobalt's Lead Manager customer and prospect relationship management (CRM) application, Cobalt's AutoShow online inventory management product, Cobalt's Traffic Reporter product to measure their site's effectiveness, as well as new design options to give dealers the ability to differentiate their stores while maintaining Lexus brand identity.
The program also features promotional graphics, rotating home page billboards, side-by-side vehicle comparisons and expanded search parameters for Lexus certified pre-owned vehicles.
About Lexus
Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., markets and sells luxury cars and sport utility vehicles through its 194 dealers in the United States.
Since its inception in 1989, Lexus says it has earned a reputation for vehicle quality, service and customer satisfaction. Lexus is the top-selling luxury nameplate in the United States. It is headquartered in Torrance, Calif.
Cobalt has been the sole endorsed provider of e-business products and services to Lexus dealers since 1996.
About The Cobalt Group
The Cobalt Group™, headquartered in Seattle, Wash., is a provider of e-business products and services designed to help automotive dealers and manufacturers 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 8,900 Web services clients, and approximately 9,000 PartsVoice® (www.partsvoice.com) clients. Cobalt's e-business products and services are endorsed by 14 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 through PartsVoice, 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 a provider of automotive data collection and reporting services to the automotive industry.
Cobalt has offices in Seattle, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; Detroit, Mich.; Columbus, Ohio; and Austin, Texas.
For more information, please visit www.cobaltgroup.com or call (800) 909-8244.
