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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.8

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

        This Employment Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into, at
Irvine, California, as of February 14, 2000, by and between A.I.N. Corporation,
a California corporation (the "Company"), with offices at 3170 Crow Canyon
Place, #270, San Ramon; autobytel.com inc., a corporation duly organized under
the laws of the State of Delaware and the sole stockholder of the Company (the
"Parent"), with offices at 18872 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine, California 92612-1400;
and Michael Gorun (hereinafter referred to as the "Executive"), who resides at
2583 Alamo County Circle, Alamo, California 94507.

                                    RECITALS

        WHEREAS: Executive desires to be employed and the Company desires to
employ Executive, subject to the following terms and conditions.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein, and with reference to the above recitals, the parties hereby
agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1

                               TERM OF EMPLOYMENT

        The Company hereby employs the Executive as President of the Company and
the Executive hereby accepts such employment by the Company for a period of
three (3) years (the "Term") commencing from the date hereof (the "Commencement
Date") and expiring upon the third anniversary of the Commencement Date, unless
extended by mutual agreement of the parties.

                                    ARTICLE 2

                             DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS

        2.1 During the Term of this Agreement, the Executive shall: (i) devote
his full business time, attention and energies to the business of the Company;
(ii) shall use his best efforts to promote the interests of the Company; (iii)
shall perform all functions and services as the President of the Company,
including general management and supervision over the operations of the business
and employees of the Company; (iv) shall act in accordance with the policies and
directives of the Company, as determined from time to time by the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board") and by the Chief Executive Officer of the
Parent.

        2.2 The Executive covenants and agrees that, while actually employed by
the Company, he shall not engage in any other business duties or pursuits
whatsoever, or directly or indirectly render any services of a business or
commercial nature to any other person or organization, including, but not
limited to,

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providing services to any business that is in competition with or similar in
nature to the Company or the Parent, whether for compensation or otherwise,
without the prior written consent of the Board. Notwithstanding anything herein
contained to the contrary, this Agreement shall not be construed to prohibit the
Executive from making passive personal investments or conducting personal
business, financial or legal affairs or other personal matters if those
activities do not materially interfere with the services required hereunder.

                                    ARTICLE 3

                                  COMPENSATION

        3.1 As compensation for the services to be rendered by the Executive
pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will pay the Executive a base salary
equal to Two Hundred Twenty- Five Thousand Dollars ($225,000) per year during
the Term of this Agreement, which rate shall be reviewed by the Board annually
and may be increased (but not reduced) by the Board in such amounts as the
Board, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. The base salary shall be paid
in substantially equal bimonthly installments, in accordance with the normal
payroll practices of the Company.

        3.2 The Company shall provide the Executive with the opportunity to earn
an annual bonus for each fiscal year of the Company, occurring in whole or in
part during the Term. The annual bonus payable to the Executive shall be in such
amount and based on such criteria for the award as may be established by the
Board from time to time. Any bonus shall be paid as promptly as practicable
following the end of the preceding fiscal year. The Executive shall participate
in all other employee benefit plans in which other senior executives of the
Company are eligible collectively to participate from time to time.

        3.3 As further consideration for the services rendered by the Executive
during the Term, the Executive shall be granted a stock option to purchase
shares of the Parent's common stock on the terms and conditions set forth in the
Stock Option Agreement attached as Exhibit A (the "Option").

        3.4 The Company shall have the right to deduct or withhold from the
compensation due to the Executive hereunder any and all sums required for
federal income and employee social security taxes and all state or local income
taxes now applicable or that may be enacted and become applicable during the
Term.

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                                          ARTICLE 4

                                      EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

        4.1 The Company agrees that the Executive shall be entitled to all
ordinary and customary perquisites afforded to executive employees of the
Company.

        4.2 The Executive shall be entitled to three (3) weeks of paid vacation
for each year of his employment hereunder.

                                    ARTICLE 5

                                BUSINESS EXPENSES

        5.1 The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all reasonable
and authorized business expenses incurred by the Executive during the Term; such
payment or reimbursement shall not be unreasonably withheld so long as said
business expenses have been incurred for and promote the business of the Company
and are incurred in accordance with the Company's expense reimbursement
policies.

        5.2 As a condition to reimbursement under this Article 5, the Executive
shall furnish to the Company adequate records and other documentary evidence
required by federal and state statutes and regulations for the substantiation of
each expenditure. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that failure to furnish
the required documentation may result in the Company denying all or part of the
expense for which reimbursement is sought.

                                    ARTICLE 6

                            TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

        6.1 Termination for Cause. The Board may, during the Term, without
notice to the Executive, terminate this Agreement and discharge the Executive
for Cause, whereupon the respective rights and obligations of the parties
hereunder shall terminate; provided, however, that the Company shall pay the
Executive any amount due and owing pursuant to Articles 3, 4, and 5, prorated to
the date of termination. As used herein, the term "for Cause" shall refer to the
termination of the Executive's employment as a result of any one or more of the
following: (i) Executive commits any willful breach or gross neglect of his
duties under this Agreement after written notice to Executive specifying such
breach or neglect and if possible a reasonable opportunity to cure such of not
less than ten (10) days, (ii) Executive is convicted of a felony or charged with
a misdemeanor involving a moral turpitude, or (iii) Executive breaches the
covenants contained in Article 8 hereof.

        6.2 Termination Without Cause. The Company in its sole and absolute
discretion may elect to terminate this Agreement without Cause or prior warning
immediately upon written notice to Executive, in which event the Company's only
obligations shall be to pay to Executive

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(i) any amount due and owing pursuant to Articles 3, 4, and 5, prorated to the
date of termination and (ii) the Executive's salary for an additional One
Hundred Eighty (180) days following the termination.

        6.3 Termination for Death or Disability. The Executive's employment
shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Term. If the
Company determines in good faith that the Disability (as defined below) of the
Executive has occurred during the Term, it shall give written notice to the
Executive of its intention to terminate his employment. In such event, the
Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th
day after receipt of such notice by the Executive, provided that, within the
thirty (30) days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to
full-time performance of his duties.

           For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean the inability
of the Executive to perform his duties under this Agreement on account of
physical or mental illness or incapacity for a period of one hundred twenty
(120) consecutive calendar days, or for a period of one hundred eighty (180)
calendar days, whether or not consecutive, during any three hundred sixty-five
(365) day period.

        6.4 Termination for Good Cause. The Executive may terminate his
employment with the Company due to the Company's relocation of the Executive's
principal business office more than 50 miles outside San Ramon, California
without his consent, in which event the Company's only obligations shall be to
pay to Executive (i) any amount due and owing pursuant to Articles 3, 4, and 5,
prorated to the date of termination and (ii) the Executive's salary for an
additional One Hundred Eighty (180) days following the termination.

                                    ARTICLE 7

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

        7.1 If the Executive is a party or is threatened to be made a party to
any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding, or
appeal therefrom, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or
otherwise, because he is or was an officer or director of the Company, the
Company shall indemnify the Executive against any reasonable expenses (including
attorneys' fees and disbursements), and any judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement incurred by him in connection with such claim, action, suit,
proceeding or appeal therefrom to the extent such expenses, judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement were not advanced by the Company on his behalf
pursuant to Section 7.2 below, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

        7.2 Provided that Executive shall first have agreed in writing to repay
such amounts advanced if it is determined by an arbitrator or court of competent
jurisdiction that the Executive

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was not entitled to indemnification, upon the written request of the Executive
specifying the amount of a requested advance and the intended use thereof, the
Company shall indemnify Executive for his expenses (including attorneys' fees
and disbursements), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement incurred by
him in connection with such claim, action, suit, proceeding or appeal whether
civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, in advance of the
final disposition of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or appeal
therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law.

                                    ARTICLE 8

                              RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

        8.1 Covenant Not to Disclose Confidential Information. During the Term
and following termination of this Agreement, the Executive agrees that, without
the Company's prior written consent authorized by the Board, he will not use or
disclose to any person, firm, association, partnership, entity or corporation,
any confidential information concerning: (i) the business operations or internal
structure of the Company, the Parent or any of their subsidiaries, joint
ventures, other operations, affiliates or investments (collectively, the
Business") ; (ii) the customers of the Business; (iii) the financial condition
of the Business; and (iv) other confidential information pertaining to the
Business, including without limitation, trade secrets, technical data, marketing
analyses and studies, operating procedures, customer and/or inventor lists, or
the existence or nature of any of the agreements concerning the Business;
provided, however, that the Executive shall be entitled to disclose such
information: (i) to the extent the same shall have otherwise become publicly
available (unless made publicly available by the Executive); (ii) during the
course of or in connection with any actual or potential litigation, arbitration,
or other proceeding based upon or in connection with the subject matter of this
Agreement; (iii) as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct his duties
hereunder, provided the Executive is acting in good faith and in the best
interest of the Company; or (iv) as may be required by law or judicial process.

        8.2 Covenant Not to Compete. The Executive acknowledges that he has
established and will continue to establish favorable relations with the
customers, clients and accounts of the Business and will have access to trade
secrets concerning the Business. Therefore, in consideration of such relations
and to further protect trade secrets, directly or indirectly, of the Company and
the Parent, the Executive agrees that during the Term, the Executive will not,
directly or indirectly, without the express written consent of the Board own or
have any interest in or act as an officer, director, partner, principal,
employee, agent, representative, consultant or independent contractor of, or in
any way assist in, any business which is engaged, directly or indirectly, in any
business competitive with the Business in the United States at any time during
the Term, or become associated with or render services to any person, firm,
corporation or other entity so engaged ("Competitive Businesses"); provided,
however; that the Executive may own without the express written consent of the
Company not more than one percent (1%) of the issued and outstanding securities
of any company or enterprise whose securities are listed on a

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national securities exchange or actively traded in the over-the-counter market.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any court determines that the covenant not to
compete, or any part thereof, is unenforceable because of the duration of such
provision or the geographic area or scope covered thereby, such court shall have
the power to reduce the duration, area or scope of such provision to the extent
necessary to make the provision enforceable and, in its reduced form, such
provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced;

        8.3 Nonsolicitation. The Executive acknowledges that he has established
and will continue to establish favorable relations with the customers, clients
and accounts of the Business and will have access to trade secrets concerning
the Business. Therefore, in consideration of such relations and to further
protect trade secrets, directly or indirectly, of the Company and the Parent,
the Executive agrees that during the Term and two (2) years thereafter, the
Executive will not, directly or indirectly, without the express written consent
of the Board

                (i) solicit clients, customers or accounts of the Company for,
        on behalf of or otherwise related to the Business or any products or
        services related thereto for any other person or entity; or

                (ii) solicit any person who is or shall be in the employ or
        service of the Business (or within 12 months of any such solicitation
        was in the employ or service of the Business) to leave such employ or
        service to become employed with any other business.

        8.4 Specific Performance. Recognizing that irreparable damage will
result to the Company and the Parent in the event of the breach or threatened
breach of any of the foregoing covenants and assurances by the Executive
contained in this Article 8, and that the Company's and Parent's remedies at law
for any such breach or threatened breach may be inadequate, the Company and the
Parent and their successors and assigns, in addition to such other remedies
which may be available to them, shall be entitled to an injunction to be issued
by any court of competent jurisdiction ordering compliance with this Agreement
or enjoining and restraining the Executive, and each and every person, firm or
company acting in concert or participation with him, from the continuation of
such breach. The obligations of the Executive and rights of the Company and the
Parent pursuant to this Article 8 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement. The covenants and obligations of the Executive set forth in this
Article 8 are in addition to and not in lieu of or exclusive of any other
obligations and duties the Executive owes to the Company, whether expressed or
implied in fact or law.

                                    ARTICLE 9

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

        9.1 This Agreement and any attached schedules or exhibits (which are
incorporated herein and shall be treated as a part of this Agreement) are
intended to be the final, complete and

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exclusive agreement between the parties relating to the employment of the
Executive by the Company and all prior or contemporaneous understandings,
representations and statements, oral or written, are merged herein. No
modification waiver, amendment, discharge or change of this Agreement shall be
valid unless the same is in writing and signed by the party against which the
enforcement thereof is or may be sought.

        9.2 No waiver, by conduct or otherwise, by any party of any term,
provision, or condition of this Agreement, shall be deemed or construed as a
further or continuing waiver of any such term, provision, or condition nor as a
waiver of a similar or dissimilar condition or provision at the same time or at
any prior or subsequent time.

        9.3 The rights under this Agreement, or by law or equity, shall be
cumulative and may be exercised at any time and from time to time. No failure by
any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any rights shall be construed
or deemed to be a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise by
any party preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right.

        9.4 Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any notice,
approval, consent, waiver or other communication required or permitted to be
given or to be served upon any person in connection with this Agreement shall be
in writing. Such notice shall be personally served, sent by telegram, tested
telex, fax or cable, or sent prepaid by either registered or certified mail with
return receipt requested or Federal Express and shall be deemed given (i) if
personally served or by Federal Express, when delivered to the person to whom
such notice is addressed, (ii) if given by telegram, telex, fax or cable, when
sent, or (ii) if given by mail, two (2) business days following deposit in the
United States mail. Any notice given by telegram, telex, fax or cable shall be
confirmed in writing by overnight mail or Federal Express within forty-eight
(48) hours after being sent. Such notices shall be addressed to the party to
whom such notice is to be given at the party's address set forth below or as
such party shall otherwise direct.

               If to the Parent or:       autobytel.com inc.
               the Company                18872 MacArthur Blvd., Second Floor
                                          Irvine, California 92612-1400
                                          Attn: General Counsel
                                          Facsimile: (949) 862-1323

               With a copy to:            Thomas Pollock, Esq.
                                          Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
                                          345 California Street, 29th Floor
                                          San Francisco, California 94104
                                          Facsimile: (415) 217-5333

               If to the Executive:       Michael Gorun
                                          2583 Alamo County Circle
                                          Alamo, California 94507
                                          Facsimile: (925) 277-0260

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               With a copy to:            Paul Lion, Esq.
                                          Morrison & Foerster LLP
                                          755 Page Mill Road
                                          Palo Alto, California 94304
                                          Facsimile: (650) 494-0792

        9.5 The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

        9.6 This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with
the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to the principles of
conflict of laws thereof.

        9.7 This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one
instrument.

        9.8 The provisions of this Agreement are agreed to be severable, and if
any provision, or application thereof, is held invalid or unenforceable, then
such holding shall not effect any other provision or application.

        9.9 As used herein, and as the circumstances require, the plural term
shall include the singular, the singular shall include the plural, the neuter
term shall include the masculine and feminine genders, and the masculine term
shall include the neuter and the feminine genders.

        9.10 Any controversy or claim arising out of, or related to, this
Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by binding arbitration in the
City of Irvine, California, in accordance with the rules then in effect of the
American Arbitration Association, and the arbitrator's decision shall be binding
and final, and judgment upon the award rendered may be entered in any court
having jurisdiction thereof. Each party hereto shall pay its or their own
expenses incident to the negotiation, preparation and resolution of any
controversy or claim arising out of, or related to, this Agreement, or the
breach thereof, provided, however, the Company shall pay and be solely
responsible for any attorneys' fees and expenses and court or arbitration costs
incurred by the Executive as a result of a claim that the Company has breached
or otherwise failed to perform this Agreement or any provision hereof to be
performed by the Company if the Executive prevails in the contest in whole or in
part.

        [Signatures on Next Page]

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.

                                      AIN CORPORATION

                                      By:   /s/ Michael Gorun
                                         --------------------------------------
                                      Name: Michael Gorun
                                            -----------------------------------
                                      Title: President and Secretary
                                             ----------------------------------

                                      AUTOBYTEL.COM INC.

                                      By /s/ Ariel Amir
                                         --------------------------------------
                                      Name: Ariel Amir
                                            -----------------------------------
                                      Title: Vice-President and General Cousnel
                                             ----------------------------------

                                      /s/ Michael Gorun
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      MICHAEL GORUN

                  [Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18

[*] Confidential Treatment has been requested for certain portions of this
exhibit.

               CONTENT LICENSE AND CHANNEL SPONSORSHIP TERM SHEET

This agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of the 12th day of September,
1997 ("Effective Date"), by and between Excite, Inc., a California corporation,
located at 555 Broadway, Redwood City, California 94063 ("Excite"), and
Auto-By-Tel, a California corporation, located at 18872 MacArthur Blvd, #200,
Irvine, California, 92612-1400 ("Auto-By-Tel").

                                    RECITALS

A.       Excite maintains a site on the Internet at http://www.excite.com and
         owns and/or manages related Web sites worldwide (collectively, the
         "Excite Network") which, among other things, allow its users to search
         for and access content and other sites on the Internet.

B.       Within the Excite Network, Excite currently organizes certain content
         into topical channels, including the Excite Automotive Channel.

C.       Excite also maintains and/or manages certain Web pages which may be
         delivered to users via email, desktop "channels" or Internet "push"
         technologies (collectively, "Broadcast Pages") which may incorporate
         content supplied to Excite by third parties for the purpose of
         providing value to Excite users and providing access to the content,
         products and/or services of such third parties.

D.       Auto-By-Tel owns or has the right to distribute certain content
         relating to online automobile buying and maintains a related site on
         the Internet at http://www.autobytel.com (the "Auto-By-Tel Site") for
         which it wishes to generate increased traffic.

E.       Auto-By-Tel wishes to promote use of the Auto-By-Tel Site to Excite's
         users by sponsoring the Excite Automotive Channel and purchasing banner
         advertising on the Excite Network.

Therefore, the parties agree as follows:

1.       SPONSORSHIP OF EXCITE AUTOMOTIVE CHANNEL

         a)       Auto-By-Tel will be the exclusive online automobile buying
                  service sponsor of the Excite Automotive Channel, located at
                  http://www.excite.com.

         b)       During the term of the Agreement, Excite will not display any
                  banner advertising or promotional placements for any of
                  Auto-By-Tel's direct competitors (listed in Exhibit C) in the
                  Excite Automotive Channel. Not more than once per quarter,
                  Auto-By-Tel may update this list of competitors.

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         c)       In the event that Excite intends to enter into an agreement
                  with a third party with respect to sponsorship of the Excite
                  Automotive Channel before the expiration of the term of the
                  Agreement, Excite will deliver to Auto-By-Tel a written notice
                  describing the relevant opportunity. Although Excite will not
                  be required to disclose any information in violation of any
                  nondisclosure agreement between Excite and any third party,
                  the notice will include information sufficient to permit
                  Auto-By-Tel to evaluate the requirements for meeting the
                  competing offer for sponsorship of the Excite Automotive
                  Channel and to formulate a meaningful response. Auto-By-Tel
                  will have ten (10) days after receipt of such written notice
                  to provide notice to Excite that it is prepared to enter into
                  an agreement with Excite on the same terms and conditions as
                  Excite proposes to accept from such third party. Excite and
                  Auto-By-Tel will then promptly commence good faith
                  negotiations to conclude the agreement. If Auto-By-Tel rejects
                  said offer or fails to notify Excite of its acceptance within
                  the ten (10) day period, Excite shall have the right to enter
                  into the agreement with such third party, provided the terms
                  and conditions of the agreement are not less favorable to
                  Excite than previously offered by Auto-By-Tel.

2.       MARKETING AND PROMOTION

         a)       Excite will feature Auto-By-Tel in the Auto Buying Services
                  department of the Excite Automotive Channel for the term of
                  the Agreement.

         b)       Excite will conduct three (3) two-week car give away
                  promotions on the Excite home page promoting Auto-By-Tel
                  during the first year of the Agreement, with one promotion
                  coinciding with the launch of Auto-By-Tel's sponsorship and
                  the other two to be mutually scheduled. Excite will conduct
                  similar promotions in years two and three of the Agreement.
                  Auto-By-Tel will provide the cars to be given away through
                  these promotions.

         c)       Auto-By-Tel will purchase banner advertising on the Excite
                  Network in Year One of the Agreement in the amounts described
                  in Exhibit A. Auto-By-Tel will purchase banner advertising on
                  the Excite Network in Year Two and Year Three in amounts
                  substantially comparable to the amounts agreed upon in Exhibit
                  B.

         d)       Excite will deliver a minimum of [*] impressions of
                  Auto-By-Tel promotional placements during the term of the
                  Agreement, including the placement in the Auto Buying Services
                  department of the Excite Automotive Channel, the car give-away
                  promotions and the banner advertisements described above, the
                  display of Auto-By-Tel's content described below and other
                  promotional placements that may be determined by the parties.

         e)       Neither party will make any public statement, press release or
                  other announcement relating to the terms of or existence of
                  this Agreement without the prior written approval of the
                  other. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Auto-By-Tel hereby
                  grants to Excite the right to issue an initial press release,
                  the

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                  timing and wording of which will be subject to Auto-By-Tel's
                  reasonable approval, regarding the relationship between Excite
                  and Auto-By-Tel.

3.       CONTENT PROVIDED TO EXCITE

         a)       Auto-By-Tel will provide to Excite mutually agreed upon
                  content relating to online automobile buying such as AutoSite
                  and The Bank Rate Monitor (the "Content") which is described
                  in Exhibit D. Excite may display the Content in the Excite
                  Automotive Channel and in other locations in the Excite
                  Network. Excite will determine the "look and feel" of the
                  Excite Automotive Channel and the Excite Network.

         b)       Auto-By-Tel and Excite will determine mutually agreeable
                  methods for the transmission and incorporation of updates to
                  the Content. Other than updates to the Content or revisions as
                  needed to reflect changes to Auto-By-Tel's name and/or brand,
                  Auto-By-Tel will not alter the Content without Excite's prior
                  consent.

         c)       Auto-By-Tel will have sole responsibility for providing, at
                  its expense, the Content to Excite.

         d)       Reasonable excerpts or portions of the Content may be
                  incorporated into "Broadcast Pages" delivered by Excite via
                  email, desktop "channels" or Internet "push" technologies.
                  Excite will determine the "look and feel" of the Broadcast
                  Pages.

4.       SPONSORSHIP AND ADVERTISING FEES AND REVENUE SHARING

         a)       A set-up fee of [*] will be due to Excite upon execution of
                  the Agreement as compensation for costs of initiating access
                  to the Excite Network, programming costs associated with the
                  incorporation of the Content into the Excite Network, set-up
                  costs and other expenses associated with Excite's initiation
                  of the links, placements, advertisements and promotions
                  contemplated by this Agreement.

         b)       Separate and apart from the set-up fee, sponsorship and
                  advertising fees will be due to Excite as follows:

                                        Year 1     Year 2     Year 3
                                        ------     ------     ------

                  Sponsorship             [*]        [*]        [*]
                  Banners - US            [*]        [*]        [*]
                  Banners - WebTV/
                  International           [*]        [*]        [*]

                  Total                   [*]        [*]        [*]

                  In the event that Excite is unable to deliver the agreed-upon
                  amount of banner advertising in the WebTV and/or International
                  rotations, Excite will provide the

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                  undelivered amounts in rotation on its primary Web site.

         c)       Auto-By-Tel will pay Excite a bounty per unique purchase
                  request submitted by users referred to the Auto-By-Tel Site
                  from the Excite Network of [*] for the first [*] unique
                  purchase requests in each year of the Agreement, [*] for the
                  second [*] unique purchase requests in each year of the
                  Agreement and [*] for each unique purchase request in excess
                  of [*] in each year of the Agreement. [*]

         d)       If the number of unique purchase requests submitted by users
                  referred directly to the Auto-By-Tel Site from the Excite
                  Network in any year of the Agreement exceeds [*], the bounty
                  increases to [*] for the first [*] unique purchase requests in
                  the following year of the Agreement, [*] for the second [*]
                  unique purchase requests in the following year of the
                  Agreement and [*] for each unique purchase request in excess
                  of [*] in the following year of the Agreement.

         e)       The set-up, sponsorship and advertising fees are gross amounts
                  and do not reflect any agency commissions to be paid by
                  Auto-By-Tel. The bounty payment amounts are net of any agency
                  commissions to be paid by Auto-By-Tel.

         f)       Sponsorship and advertising fees will be paid in twelve equal
                  monthly installments commencing on the execution of the
                  Agreement. Bounty payments will be made quarterly. The parties
                  will conduct annual reviews to ensure accurate payments and
                  accounting.

         g)       Auto-By-Tel will maintain accurate records with respect to the
                  calculation of all payments due under this Agreement. Excite
                  may, upon no less than thirty (30) days prior written notice
                  to Auto-By-Tel, cause an independent Certified Public
                  Accountant to inspect the records of Auto-By-Tel reasonably
                  related to the calculation of such payments during
                  Auto-By-Tel's normal business hours. The fees charged by such
                  Certified Public Accountant in connection with the inspection
                  will be paid by Excite unless the payments made to Excite are
                  determined to have been less than ninety-five percent (95%) of
                  the payment owed to Excite, in which case Auto-By-Tel will be
                  responsible for the payment of the reasonable fees for such
                  inspection.

5.       CUSTOMER INFORMATION

         a)       Auto-By-Tel will retain all rights to customers acquired
                  pursuant to the Agreement.

         b)       Once per quarter, in connection with Auto-By-Tel's bounty
                  payments, Auto-By-Tel will provide Excite with all of the
                  customer information it acquires through the purchase requests
                  submitted by users referred directly to Auto-By-Tel's Web site
                  from the Excite Network. This customer information will be
                  deemed to be the joint property of the parties. Under no
                  circumstances will Excite sell, provide or transfer this
                  customer information to any third party.

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6.       OPERATIONAL SUPPORT

         a)       Excite will provide, at its sole expense, Account Management
                  support of the Auto Buying Services department of the Excite
                  Automotive Channel sufficient to support for the level of
                  sales and marketing contemplated by the Agreement.

         b)       The parties will hold formal reviews on a monthly basis to
                  maintain anticipated results according to the sponsorship
                  objectives. Advertising and sponsorship placements will be
                  adjusted monthly by mutual agreement.

7.       TERM AND TERMINATION

         a)       The Agreement will have an initial term of three (3) years.

         b)       Auto-By-Tel will have the option to cancel the Agreement if,
                  at the end of the first year of the Agreement, users referred
                  to the Auto-By-Tel Site from the Excite Network do not submit
                  [*] unique purchase requests.

         c)       Excite will have the option to cancel the Agreement if, at the
                  end of the second year under the term of the Agreement, Excite
                  has not received an aggregate amount of [*] in Bounty.

         d)       Either party may terminate this Agreement if the other party
                  materially breaches its obligations hereunder and such breach
                  remains uncured for thirty (30) days following the notice to
                  the breaching party of the breach, with the following
                  exceptions:

                  (i)      In the event of three or more errors, failures or
                           outages of the Content in any thirty (30) day period,
                           Excite may elect to immediately terminate this
                           Agreement upon written notice to Auto-By-Tel and
                           enter into an other arrangements for the acquisition
                           of similar content; or

                  (ii)     Auto-By-Tel will ensure that the Content will at all
                           times be at least comparable to any other source of
                           similar topical content available on the Internet in
                           terms of the following factors, taken as a whole: (i)
                           breadth and depth of coverage, (ii) timeliness of
                           content updates and (iii) reputation and ranking
                           based on a cross-section of third party reviewers in
                           terms of features, functionality, quality and other
                           qualitative factors. In the event that Auto-By-Tel
                           fails to meet these quality criteria, Excite may
                           terminate this agreement on thirty (30) days written
                           notice and enter into an other arrangements for the
                           acquisition of similar content.

         e)       All payments that have accrued prior to the termination or
                  expiration of this Agreement will be payable in full within
                  thirty (30) days thereof.

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

         f)       The provisions of Section 10 (Confidentiality), Section 11
                  (Warranty and Indemnity), Section 12 (Limitation of Liability)
                  and Section 13 (Dispute Resolution) will survive any
                  termination or expiration of this Agreement.

8.       CONTENT OWNERSHIP AND LICENSE

         a)       Auto-By-Tel will retain all right, title and interest in and
                  to the Content worldwide (including, but not limited to,
                  ownership of all copyrights and other intellectual property
                  rights therein). Subject to the terms and conditions of this
                  Agreement, Auto-By-Tel hereby grants to Excite a royalty-free,
                  nonexclusive, worldwide license to use, reproduce, distribute,
                  transmit and publicly display the Content in accordance with
                  this Agreement.

         b)       Excite will retain all right, title, and interest in and to
                  the Excite Network and the Broadcast Pages worldwide
                  (including, but not limited to, ownership of all copyrights,
                  look and feel and other intellectual property rights therein).

9.       TRADEMARK OWNERSHIP AND LICENSE

         a)       Auto-By-Tel will retain all right, title and interest in and
                  to its trademarks, service marks and trade names worldwide,
                  subject to the limited license granted to Excite hereunder.

         b)       Excite will retain all right, title and interest in and to its
                  trademarks, service marks and trade names worldwide, subject
                  to the limited license granted to Auto-By-Tel hereunder.

         c)       Each party hereby grants to the other a non-exclusive, limited
                  license to use its trademarks, service marks or trade names
                  only as specifically described in this Agreement. All such use
                  shall be in accordance with each party's reasonable policies
                  regarding advertising and trademark usage as established from
                  time to time.

         d)       Upon the expiration or termination of this Agreement, each
                  party will cease using the trademarks, service marks and/or
                  trade names of the other except:

                  i)       As the parties may agree in writing; or

                  ii)      To the extent permitted by applicable law.

10.      CONFIDENTIALITY

         a)       For the purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information"
                  means information about the disclosing party's (or its
                  suppliers') business or activities that is proprietary and
                  confidential, which shall include all business, financial,
                  technical and other information of a party marked or
                  designated by such party as "confidential" or "proprietary";
                  or information which, by the nature of the

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

                  circumstances surrounding the disclosure, ought in good faith
                  to be treated as confidential.

         b)       Confidential Information will not include information that (i)
                  is in or enters the public domain without breach of this
                  Agreement, (ii) the receiving party lawfully receives from a
                  third party without restriction on disclosure and without
                  breach of a nondisclosure obligation or (iii) the receiving
                  party knew prior to receiving such information from the
                  disclosing party or develops independently.

         c)       Each party agrees (i) that it will not disclose to any third
                  party or use any Confidential Information disclosed to it by
                  the other except as expressly permitted in this Agreement and
                  (ii) that it will take all reasonable measures to maintain the
                  confidentiality of all Confidential Information of the other
                  party in its possession or control, which will in no event be
                  less than the measures it uses to maintain the confidentiality
                  of its own information of similar importance.

         d)       Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party may disclose
                  Confidential Information (i) to the extent required by a court
                  of competent jurisdiction or other governmental authority or
                  otherwise as required by law or (ii) on a "need-to-know" basis
                  under an obligation of confidentiality to its legal counsel,
                  accountants, banks and other financing sources and their
                  advisors.

         e)       The information contained in the Usage Reports provided by
                  each party hereunder will be deemed to be the Confidential
                  Information of the disclosing party.

         f)       The terms and conditions of this Agreement will be deemed to
                  be the Confidential Information of each party and will not be
                  disclosed without the written consent of the other party.

11.      WARRANTY AND INDEMNITY

         a)       Auto-By-Tel warrants that it owns, or has obtained the right
                  to distribute and make available as specified in this
                  Agreement, any and all content provided to Excite or made
                  available to third parties in connection with this Agreement.

         b)       Auto-By-Tel warrants that the Content will comply with the
                  description and technical specifications contained in Exhibit
                  D.

         c)       Auto-By-Tel will indemnify, defend and hold harmless Excite,
                  its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, consultants
                  and agents from any and all third party claims, liability,
                  damages and/or costs (including, but not limited to, attorneys
                  fees) arising from:

                  i)       The breach of any warranty, representation or
                           covenant in this Agreement;

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                  ii)      Any claim that the Content infringes or violates any
                           third party's copyright, patent, trade secret,
                           trademark, right of publicity or right of privacy or
                           contains any defamatory content; or

                  iii)     Any claim arising from content displayed on the
                           Auto-By-Tel Site.

                  Excite will promptly notify Auto-By-Tel of any and all such
                  claims and will reasonably cooperate with Auto-By-Tel with the
                  defense and/or settlement thereof; provided that, if any
                  settlement requires an affirmative obligation of, results in
                  any ongoing liability to or prejudices or detrimentally
                  impacts Excite in any way and such obligation, liability,
                  prejudice or impact can reasonably be expected to be material,
                  then such settlement shall require Excite's written consent
                  (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and Excite may
                  have its own counsel in attendance at all proceedings and
                  substantive negotiations relating to such claim.

         d)       EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED IN THIS AGREEMENT, NEITHER PARTY MAKES ANY
                  WARRANTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS
                  AGREEMENT AND HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
                  INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
                  FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING SUCH SUBJECT
                  MATTER.

12.      LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

EXCEPT UNDER SECTION 11(c), IN NO EVENT WILL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER
FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER BASED ON BREACH OF
CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, WHETHER OR NOT THAT PARTY
HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. THE LIABILITY OF EXCITE FOR
DAMAGES OR ALLEGED DAMAGES HEREUNDER, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER
LEGAL THEORY, IS LIMITED TO, AND WILL NOT EXCEED, THE AMOUNTS ACTUALLY PAID BY
AUTO-BY-TEL TO EXCITE HEREUNDER.

13.      DISPUTE RESOLUTION

         a)       The parties agree that any breach of either of the parties'
                  obligations regarding trademarks, service marks or trade names
                  and/or confidentiality would result in irreparable injury for
                  which there is no adequate remedy at law. Therefore, in the
                  event of any breach or threatened breach of a party's
                  obligations regarding trademarks, service marks or trade names
                  or confidentiality, the aggrieved party will be entitled to
                  seek equitable relief in addition to its other available legal
                  remedies in a court of competent jurisdiction. For the
                  purposes of this section only, the parties consent to venue in
                  either the state courts of the county in which Excite has its
                  principal place of business or the United States District
                  Court for the Northern District of California.

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

         b)       In the event of disputes between the parties arising from or
                  concerning in any manner the subject matter of this Agreement,
                  other than disputes arising from or concerning trademarks,
                  service marks or trade names and/or confidentiality, the
                  parties will first attempt to resolve the dispute(s) through
                  good faith negotiation. In the event that the dispute(s)
                  cannot be resolved through good faith negotiation, the parties
                  will refer the dispute(s) to a mutually acceptable mediator
                  for hearing in the county in which Excite has its principal
                  place of business.

         c)       In the event that disputes between the parties arising from or
                  concerning in any manner the subject matter of this Agreement,
                  other than disputes arising from or concerning trademarks,
                  service marks or trade names and/or confidentiality, cannot be
                  resolved through good faith negotiation and mediation, the
                  parties will refer the dispute(s) to the American Arbitration
                  Association for resolution through binding arbitration by a
                  single arbitrator pursuant to the American Arbitration
                  Association's rules applicable to commercial disputes. The
                  arbitration will be held in the county in which Excite has its
                  principal place of business.

14.      GENERAL

         a)       Assignment. Neither party may assign this Agreement, in whole
                  or in part, without the other party's written consent (which
                  will not be unreasonably withheld), except that no such
                  consent will be required in connection with a merger,
                  reorganization or sale of all, or substantially all, of such
                  party's assets. Any attempt to assign this Agreement other
                  than as permitted above will be null and void.

         b)       Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and
                  construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
                  California, notwithstanding the actual state or country of
                  residence or incorporation of Auto-By-Tel.

         c)       Notice. Any notice under this Agreement will be in writing and
                  delivered by personal delivery, express courier, confirmed
                  facsimile, confirmed email or certified or registered mail,
                  return receipt requested, and will be deemed given upon
                  personal delivery, one (1) day after deposit with express
                  courier, upon confirmation of receipt of facsimile or email or
                  five (5) days after deposit in the mail. Notices will be sent
                  to a party at its address set forth below or such other
                  address as that party may specify in writing pursuant to this
                  Section.

         d)       No Agency. The parties are independent contractors and will
                  have no power or authority to assume or create any obligation
                  or responsibility on behalf of each other. This Agreement will
                  not be construed to create or imply any partnership, agency or
                  joint venture.

         e)       Force Majeure. Any delay in or failure of performance by
                  either party under this Agreement will not be considered a
                  breach of this Agreement and will be

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

                  excused to the extent caused by any occurrence beyond the
                  reasonable control of such party including, but not limited
                  to, acts of God, power outages and governmental restrictions.

         f)       Severability. In the event that any of the provisions of this
                  Agreement are held by to be unenforceable by a court or
                  arbitrator, the remaining portions of the Agreement will
                  remain in full force and effect.

         g)       Entire Agreement. This Agreement is the complete and exclusive
                  agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
                  matter hereof, superseding any prior agreements and
                  communications (both written and oral) regarding such subject
                  matter. This Agreement may only be modified, or any rights
                  under it waived, by a written document executed by both
                  parties.

Auto-By-Tel                             Excite, Inc.

By:     /s/ Mark W. Lorimer             By:     /s/ Robert C. Hood
      ---------------------------             ----------------------------------

Name:       Mark W. Lorimer             Name:       Robert C. Hood
      ---------------------------             ----------------------------------

Title:                                  Title:      EVP - CFO
      ---------------------------             ----------------------------------

                                       10

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