PORTLAND, Ore., March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Chrome Systems Inc. today announced a new version of its New Vehicle Data product that, for the first time ever, includes the detailed logic that governs a vehicle's optional equipment. This new offering allows Chrome customers to build their own vehicle configurators, with all of the confidence of the Chrome Standard-an industry benchmark for the accuracy, reliability, and orderability of vehicle data.
Vehix.com, an automotive portal with more than 1 million unique visitors per month, recently licensed Chrome's New Vehicle Data with configuration logic to power their website. Vehix.com is partnered with cable companies in more than 68 markets, providing high quality purchase leads to a network of 1,500 auto dealers who utilize local cable television advertising.
"We turned to Chrome for their expertise in automotive data and configuration logic," said Chris Satovick, V.P. Consumer Products, Vehix, Inc. "Depending on their experience has enabled us to get our new site to market faster and to provide our customers with useful, accurate information to assist them in their car buying decisions."
Many vehicle configurators, whether they are web-based versions for consumers or systems used internally by finance, CRM, and remarketing businesses, turn a blind eye to the rules governing the hundreds of possible option configurations available in most vehicles. They often allow users to specify two types of roofs or two types of stereo systems, allow a vehicle to be specified and "priced" with both leather seats and cloth seats, or allow users to select transmissions that won't work with the selected engine. As a result, these systems can deliver conflicting specifications and misleading price quotes that create confusion and undermine positive consumer-dealer relationships.
Chrome's configuration logic adds value by defining the relationships between the hundreds of potential options for any vehicle. This prevents customers from choosing "unorderable" combinations of features, and guarantees that price quotes are accurate "as configured."
"We're very pleased that Chrome customers can now fully leverage our 20-year history in vehicle configuration, descriptions and equipment analysis," said Peter Batten, General Manager of Chrome. "Website developers and companies in the finance and automotive markets making software tools will now be able to accurately configure or describe vehicles and their equipment options."
For two decades, Chrome has been providing the industry's most complete "new vehicle data" product -- an encyclopedic source of information on more than 40 makes that spans every year from 1997 through the current calendar year. The company's data is accurate, unbiased and consistent, helping Chrome's customers meet market requirements as well as save time and money.
About Chrome
Chrome provides vehicle content, software, technology and services to deliver complete enterprise solutions to all segments of the automotive retail industry. These segments include manufacturers, fleet companies, dealers, Internet sites, and financial institutions. Chrome pioneered the technology behind electronic vehicle configuration with the introduction of PC Carbook(R), and since 1986 has collected, analyzed and enhanced "raw" automotive data from all manufacturers. Chrome Systems, Inc. is a subsidiary of DealerTrack Data Services, Inc., a DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. company .
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements include the expected benefits of DealerTrack's new products for DealerTrack's customers. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of DealerTrack to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
Factors that might cause such a difference include: increased competitive pressure from other industry participants and the inability to execute any element of DealerTrack's business strategy, including selling additional products and services to existing and new customers; risks associated with DealerTrack's systems and networks, including security breaches and events beyond DealerTrack's control; the impact of the automotive retail industry on DealerTrack's business; the impact of Federal and state legislation on DealerTrack's business; DealerTrack's success in expanding its customer base and product and service offerings as well as in pursuing acquisitions and strategic alliances. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking statements can be found in DealerTrack's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors included in DealerTrack's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-126944). Investors, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are only made as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to publicly update such forward- looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
CONTACT:
Liz Zale
DealerTrack, Inc.
(516) 734-3758
