The site started selling new vehicles last month and expects to sign up several thousand dealers by year end. Matching leads are sent back, and dealers can view the vehicle make, model, year, price, consumer zip code, and lead source before deciding whether to buy it. The first dealer to respond gets the lead. The site launched last October in Austin, Tex., and is now also available in San Antonio and Las Vegas. It hopes to expand throughout Texas and to Phoenix, Atlanta, and St. Louis.
Buyers can configure their dream car on the Web, then look for it in actual inventory.
Mary Anne Shreve is a senior editor of AutoExec magazine. All Rights Reserved.