DETROIT, Jan. 8, 2003 — Today at the 2003 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), the MSN® Autos service, formerly MSN Carpoint®
, the world’s largest network of automotive research, buying and ownership services, announced a marketing agreement with Volvo Cars of North America LLC.
As part of Volvo’s integrated marketing program, it will showcase new vehicles and content within MSN Autos’ comprehensive coverage of the 2003 NAIAS and also will launch version 2.0 of the Volvo Digital Garage, developed exclusively for Volvo owners and enthusiasts.
Volvo will display branded advertising featuring the all-new, award-winning XC90 SUV alongside NAIAS media on MSN Autos, including news and video and photo galleries that are updated daily, effectively reaching the more than 10 million monthly MSN Autos users. Volvo will leverage additional advertising formats that include skyscraper, showcase and banner ads featured prominently across MSN Autos’ NAIAS home and manufacturer pages. These advertisements will span the length of the page and occupy the most sought-after real estate for advertisers on the MSN Autos site. In addition to MSN Autos’ NAIAS coverage, Volvo will have a presence in MSN Autos’ NAIAS-themed newsletter.
As part of its commitment to provide solutions for the growing market of ownership services, MSN Autos will launch the Volvo Digital Garage 2.0, which will serve as the online centerpiece of Volvo’s marketing initiative featuring relevant automotive and lifestyle content, services and information. The newest version of the Digital Garage will offer Volvo owners new functionality, including the ability to receive relevant and customized information via MSN Alerts, such as real-time traffic updates in 68 metro areas and local gas-price information from more than 30,000 stations. In addition, Volvo owners can use the Digital Garage to obtain driving directions, download vehicle owners manuals, locate local Volvo retailers, explore the Volvo Concept Lab, and locate local department of motor vehicles sites for registration and licensing information.
“The technology and content platform that MSN offers to reach online auto-buying consumers, and its flexibility to implement unique marketing opportunities, creates an exciting NAIAS media experience for Volvo, and offers the perfect environment for millions of auto enthusiasts to connect with our brand and new model offerings,”
said Phil Bienert, manager of CRM, e-business and future product strategy for Volvo.
“Our initial launch of the Volvo Digital Garage on MSN Autos was a huge success, enabling us to introduce Volvo models to the large online population of potential customers in an effective and creative way, while building stronger, long-term relationships with consumers that consistently turn to the Internet during the research and auto ownership life cycle.”
“We are in a unique position to offer our advertising partners the benefit of marketing to the millions of unique users who visit MSN Autos to access exclusive and comprehensive NAIAS content,”
said Ryan Hamlin, general manager of MSN Autos at Microsoft.
“We will continue to work with the world’s leading automotive brands, like Volvo, that recognize the importance of leveraging innovative marketing tools, rich technology and the substantial reach offered by MSN to target online auto buyers and owners to support brand awareness and sales.”
Volvo’s advertising for the all-new XC90 SUV is being featured prominently throughout MSN Autos’ coverage of the 2003 NAIAS in January 2003. MSN Autos’ show coverage will provide consumers with a first look at new production model launches and concept car unveilings, complete with extensive photography, 360-degree surround videos and exclusive reports from the show floor.
About MSN Autos
Launched in October 1995, MSN Autos is the world’s largest network of automotive buying and ownership services, visited by more than 10 million consumers each month. From product reviews and surround video features to new- and used-car pricing, MSN Autos helps consumers find the car they love, at a price they can afford. With details on more than 10,000 car models and 100,000 used vehicles, visitors can research and compare cars of virtually every make and model, identify local dealers, and receive instructions for post-purchase service and maintenance. MSN Autos has a network of more than 5,000 affiliated dealers nationwide and is exclusively endorsed by the American International Automobile Dealers Association.
About Volvo
Volvo Cars of North America LLC is part of the Volvo Car Corp. of Gteborg, Sweden. The company provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to Volvo automobile retailers in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The 2003 Volvo automobile line includes the award-winning XC90, the sporty S60 sedan, the flagship S80 luxury sedan, versatile V70 wagon and rugged Cross Country, the C70 convertible, and the compact S40 and V40 models.
About MSN
MSN has 9 million subscriptions and attracts more than 300 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 34 markets and 18 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and digital marketing solutions to businesses worldwide. The most useful and innovative online service today, MSN brings consumers everything they need from the Web to make the most of their time online. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com/. MSN worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, MSN and Carpoint are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft®
Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp .
