AUTOBYTEL, GM DEALERS TEST LOCATE-TO-ORDER IN D.C.

Autobytel and General Motors Corp. have selected the Washington, D.C. area and the Chevrolet brand to conduct a 90-day test of the two companies' new locate-to-order business model.

The test program will combine the independent all-makes, all-models capability of Autobytel with a new GM locate-to-order vehicle inventory model.

The test is designed to help GM and its dealers learn how to create an effective online locate-to-order system that displays a market area view of available inventory and enables consumers to purchase selected vehicles at a dealer-set online e-price.

Vehicle buyers will not only be able to find a Chevrolet car or truck they wish to purchase, but also select a preferred Chevrolet dealer to complete the sales transaction.

“Washington D.C. is an ideal location for this test because it has one of the highest levels of Internet penetration and Internet vehicle shoppers in the U.S.,” says Mark Hogan, GM group vice president and president of eGM. “It will allow us to deeply analyze both dealer and consumer acceptance of the new locate-to-order model.”