CarParts.com Names Ron Pyle as President of Its Vendor Network; Leading Car Parts Site Staffs Up as It Moves Into Business-to-Business Arena.

Business Editors

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 2000

Ron Pyle, the president of the National PRONTO Association, has left to join CarParts.com, the Internet's No. 1 source of parts and accessories for cars, trucks and SUVs.

Pyle, an automotive aftermarket industry veteran with 26 years of experience and the incoming president of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), joins CarParts.com today as president of its newly created Vendor Network. He will be responsible for CarParts.com's alliances with major wholesale distributors, program distribution groups (PDG) and manufacturers.

Under Pyle's leadership as president of the National PRONTO Association, an organization of independent warehouse distributors, the association grew to become a recognized leader in programmed distribution. Pyle was also instrumental in the development of PRONTO-Net, the organization's intranet communications network.

"We are very excited that Ron has joined to lead our Vendor Network," said Alan Bennett, CEO of CarParts.com. "Ron's experience at a major PDG will be extremely helpful at CarParts.com as we strengthen our relationships with the various warehouse distributors, PDGs and manufacturers. As a completely virtual company we need to work closely with warehouse distributors and manufacturers."

This year Pyle was named the incoming president of the AAIA, the automotive parts industry's largest trade association representing suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, program groups, manufacturers' reps, trade publications, educators and vendors in all segments of the industry. CarParts.com is a member of the AAIA.

"I'm delighted to join CarParts.com to help all types of vendors maximize their revenues," said Pyle. "CarParts.com has a great business model that will help consumers, installers, distributors and manufacturers work together better, and I am proud to be a part of the team."

"Ron adds tremendous value to our collection of automotive talent," said William Atkinson, director of sales and marketing for the business-to-business operations at CarParts.com. CarParts.com has assembled an excellent staff of e-automotive professionals. Atkinson recently joined CarParts.com from Auto-Wares Inc., an AutoValue member in the Midwest, were he was the director of e-commerce operations. Atkinson also brings 20 years of aftermarket experience to the CarParts.com team.

Pyle has served on the Executive Committee and board of directors of the Automotive Service Industry Association (ASIA). He became chairman of ASIA in 1999 and was instrumental in the merger of ASIA with the Automotive Parts and Accessories Association (APAA). Pyle is currently the first vice chairman of AAIA, the new association formed by the merger of ASIA and APAA. He has served on the board of directors of the Automotive Wholesalers of Texas (AWOT). He has also served on the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) Marketing Committee, and has chaired the Ford Motor Co. Independent Distributor Advisory Committee.

Pyle began his automotive aftermarket career in 1974 as a warehouse manager at AP&G Sales. From 1978 to 1990, he owned, operated and managed several auto parts stores, including AP&G Sales, ABC Auto Parts, Inc., Tyler Parts and Accessories, and Gilmer Road Auto Parts.

The announcement of Pyle's hire follows CarParts.com's latest news that it has received $42 million in funding to expand into the business-to-business sector. CarParts.com currently has a network of more than 100 suppliers, including warehouse distributors from major PDGs such as Parts Plus, National Pronto, the Alliance Group, Federated and IWD. CarParts.com's move into business-to-business is supported by its selection of 1.5 million parts, covering all product categories from replacement, accessories, performance, restoration, recycled and OEM.

CarParts.com, with headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., is the Internet's No. 1 source of replacement parts and accessories for cars, trucks and SUVs. The easy-to-use Web site (www.carparts.com) offers the driving public the convenience of online access to, and immediate delivery of, more than 1.5 million automotive products from nearly 500 major suppliers.