Autobytel Inc. Introduces Dealership CRM Program to Increase Service Revenues, Reduce Marketing Expenses.

Business Editors

NEW ORLEANS, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 28, 2002

RPM (Retention-Performance-Marketing) is First in Family of Dealer

Marketing Services to be Developed by Autobytel

Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq:ABTL), the world's largest Internet automotive marketing services company, today unveiled RPM (Retention-Performance-Marketing), the next generation in dealership service reminder programs, at the National Automobile Dealers Association show (NADA). RPM is a customer relationship management (CRM) program that makes it more affordable for carmakers and dealers to retain their car-buying and service customers.

RPM is a cost-effective alternative to more expensive products in the category and, unlike other offerings, RPM includes all three direct marketing media -- traditional direct mail, telephone campaigns and low-cost e-mail campaigns. In addition, RPM offers dealer/manufacturer branded personalized Web pages for consumers to manage their vehicle's service information at the dealer's Web site. These branded Web pages fit into the 2-to-1 marketing (manufacturer/dealer-to-customer) strategies that retailers and manufacturers are currently seeking to better build customer loyalty and branding.

"RPM's integrated e-mail and personalized Web pages can reduce a dealership's customer retention costs by over 70%," said Jeffrey Schwartz, President and CEO of Autobytel Inc. "This type of cost reduction and efficiency is the touchstone of all the dealer marketing services products we intend to launch."

Schwartz added that Autobytel plans to roll out another marketing services product, iMarketer. iMarketer calls upon the company's extensive consumer and marketing experience to provide the lowest customer acquisition costs to every dealer profit center, including new vehicle, used vehicle, F&I, and parts and service. "It's clear that dealerships and manufacturers want more integrated marketing services," continued Schwartz. "They want a single, best-in-class vendor for all profit centers across the e-mail, Web, print and telephony fulfillment channels. We believe iMarketer will be the leader in integrated automotive marketing services."

As the first in a family of marketing products planned by Autobytel to improve processes within a dealership's fixed operations, RPM focuses on helping dealers maximize their crucial parts and service profit centers. According to NADA, 53% of a dealership's profits come from service and parts -- far surpassing profits from new and used car sales. Yet the cost of customer acquisition is steadily on the rise. In fact, Direct mail expenses have increased 91% in the last ten years, with dealers spending $400 million in 2000 alone.

RPM is effective because it is designed to ensure that dealers' communications are sent to customers with accurate contact information. The product purifies the data in customer records, verifying contact information from within the dealership management system (DMS), then it automatically outputs welcome letter/e-mails for new car buying and service customers. Service reminders and campaigns are sent out on a regular basis based on each customer's specific driving habits. A free dealer/manufacturer branded personalized Web page can also be automatically created for the customer, and personalized service reminder letters or e-mails can follow on a dealer-specified timeline. The Web page records all vehicle services automatically from the dealer's management system, giving consumers an easy-to-access resource for checking their vehicle's service status.

The program also offers clients a range of reporting and analysis capabilities. Each month, the dealership receives an executive summary that allows the dealership to measure results by showing ROI (return on investment) and gross revenue generated per active name and response rate.

About Autobytel Inc.

Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq:ABTL), the world's largest Internet automotive marketing services company, helps retailers sell cars and manufacturers build brands through marketing and CRM (customer relationship management) programs. Autobytel Inc. owns and operates the popular Web sites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com and Autosite.com, as well as AIC (Automotive Information Center), a leading provider of automotive marketing data and technology. Autobytel Inc. generated an estimated four percent of all domestic new vehicle sales -- $17 billion in car sales in 2001 -- for dealers through its Web sites. With approximately 8,800 dealer relationships and 30 international automotive manufacturer customers, Autobytel Inc. is the largest syndicated car-buying content network, reaching millions of unique visitors as they are making their vehicle buying decisions. Autobytel Inc. content and technology has potential exposure to over 90 percent of total Web traffic.(a)

(a) Jupiter Media Metrix October 2001 Digital Media Audience Report (Autobytel Inc. sites is the unduplicated audience of the Autobytel and Autoweb properties and Carsmart.com. The car-buying and ownership category as defined by Autobytel. Autobytel Inc. provides content to Yahoo! Inc., AOL Web sites, MSN.com and Lycos.com. The unduplicated audience of these four sites accounts for over 90 percent of total traffic.)

The statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements under the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Autobytel undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements are changes in general economic conditions, increased or unexpected competition, delay in developing new products, inability to develop new products on a cost-effective basis, failure of new products to be adopted by dealers and manufacturers and other matters disclosed in Autobytel's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are strongly encouraged to review our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could affect operating results and the market price of our stock.