TORONTO, Ontario, Feb. 12, 2003 — MSN®
Autos Canada, part of the world’s largest network of automotive buying and ownership services, today announced a strategic marketing and lead referral relationship with DaimlerChrysler Canada Inc. The three-year agreement gives DaimlerChrysler a significantly increased presence on MSN Autos Canada ( http://autos.msn.ca/ ) and allows DaimlerChrysler to offer enhanced information about its vehicles to the more than 800,000 unique monthly users who visit MSN Autos Canada.
Consumers visiting MSN Autos Canada can now view the entire Chrysler, Jeep( and Dodge vehicle lineup in Canada, interact with the DaimlerChrysler Canada Web site, and receive relevant automotive, finance and lifestyle content dedicated to Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge buyers and owners. This is the first such expanded relationship for the MSN Autos Canada site.
“DaimlerChrysler has been an important and valued automotive partner for MSN Autos Canada, and we’re thrilled to be able to expand this relationship even further,”
said Ruth D’Souza, general manager of MSN Autos Canada.
“MSN Autos Canada is the premier online destination for new-car buying research in Canada, and Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge customers will benefit from the information, tools and services available on the site to purchase the right vehicle for their needs. This relationship will also enable DaimlerChrysler and its dealers to enhance and build better customer relationships.”
The expanded relationship also allows DaimlerChrysler to integrate its innovative advertising and marketing into the MSN Autos Canada site to target three distinct sets of automotive consumers: researchers, buyers and owners.
More and more car buyers are using the Internet to find information to help them make a smart decision when purchasing a new car. According to J.D. Power and Associates, 60 percent of all new-car buyers in the United States went online in 2002 to research their purchase. Consumers can visit the vehicle information pages in the Research section of MSN Autos Canada to get all the information they need on new Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge models, including pricing, photographs, specs and options. As part of the agreement, DaimlerChrysler will feature advertising and marketing campaigns in the Research section of MSN Autos Canada.
Through the New Car Buying Service, car buyers who submit a request for a new Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicle will be able to choose instantly which DaimlerChrysler Canada Five Star retailer they would like to work with to complete their new vehicle purchase.
“DaimlerChrysler recognizes the ability of MSN to service consumers throughout the research and buying cycle, making MSN Autos Canada a strong partner for us,”
said Ron Smith, vice president of marketing at DaimlerChrysler Canada.
“MSN Autos Canada’s strong online presence in the automotive market provides a positive platform to showcase Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles and generate sales opportunities for our Five Star retailers.”
About DaimlerChrysler Canada
DaimlerChrysler Canada markets Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles through its network of over 500 dealers. DaimlerChrysler Canada is the third-largest vehicle manufacturer in Canada. In addition to its manufacturing facilities, DaimlerChrysler Canada has offices and parts distribution centres throughout the country, dedicated to supporting the sales, service and marketing of its products.
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/ .
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* 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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