TORONTO, Feb. 6, 2003 — In a move designed to reinforce its position as the dedicated automotive channel of MSN® , Carpoint®
.ca today announced it has changed its name to MSN Autos Canada. This reflects a similar strategy employed by MSN internationally to unify several MSN network channels under the MSN brand. As a result, MSN Autos Canada now can be found at http://autos.msn.ca/.
“As the dedicated automotive channel on MSN for more than seven years in the United States and two years in Canada, we see our evolution to MSN Autos Canada as a natural step,”
said Ruth D’Souza, general manager of MSN Autos Canada.
“By unifying around and further leveraging the strong MSN brand, we are demonstrating our ongoing commitment to consumers and to our advertising partners to be the premier online destination for automotive research, buying services and ownership services.”
With more than 800,000 unique monthly visitors, MSN Autos Canada is part of the largest global network of online automotive Web sites. The fully bilingual site is an independent, all-makes, all-models resource that provides consumers with the broadest range of services to choose their desired vehicle. From new-product reviews and 360-degree surround video, to its New Car Buying Service and Used Car Marketplace, along with exclusive feature articles on just about any automotive topic, MSN Autos Canada is an indispensable resource for consumers looking to buy, sell or maintain a vehicle.
In February 2003, MSN Autos Canada will again be the official consumer Web site of the Canadian International Auto Show. For the third consecutive year, MSN Autos Canada will provide consumers with instant access to new-model launches and concept vehicles as they are unveiled in Toronto, along with independent auto reviews, surround and streaming video, and photography from the show floor, as well as in-depth coverage of the World Automotive Design Competition.
About MSN Autos Canada
Launched in September 2000, Toronto-based MSN Autos Canada is the most visited online automotive site in Canada, with more than 800,000 unique monthly visitors. The fully bilingual site is an independent, all-makes, all-models resource that provides consumers with the broadest range of services to find a car they love at a price they can afford. With information from product reviews and surround videos to new- and used-car-buying services, visitors can research, compare cars, select or configure the car they want to purchase, and receive detailed information from the MSN Autos network of Canadian dealers across the nation.
About MSN.CA
MSN.CA is a leading Canadian Web portal with 9.6 million* unique monthly visitors. Its suite of online services delivers news, information, entertainment and a variety of communication tools including the MSN network of Internet services, the Hotmail®
Web-based e-mail service and MSN Search. MSN.CA also provides such high-quality interactive services as MSN Messenger, MSN Extra Storage, MSN Shopping and MSN Web Communities. More information is available at http://www.msn.ca/.
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.
* comScore Media Metrix Canada, Home/Work combined, November 2002; Unique Visitors: The estimated number of different individuals within a designated demographic that access the content of a specific site from among the total number of projected individuals (only counted once, even if they visit the same site more than once)
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