Auto-By-Tel Corporation has formed an international division and has taken a first step in launching Auto-By-Tel UK by appointing Kevin Turnbull as Chief Executive.
Auto-By-Tel is already responsible for over $500 million in vehicle sales per month in North America, and hopes to extend this when the UK site becomes active at the end of 1998.
Pete Ellis, president and CEO of Auto-By-Tel Corp., said: “We believe
Auto-By-Tel’s consumer-friendly model will work throughout the world.
Auto-By-Tel’s phenomenal success in North America is attributed to
its having given educated Internet consumers a fast, efficient,
low-cost car-buying process. We anticipate that the Auto-By-Tel
program will be just as popular with consumers and dealers in the
UK.”
Kevin Turnbull brings 20+ years experience to his new job, including 14 years with Ford where he was Product Marketing Manager for Britain and European Advertising Manager. Recently, he engineered the start-up of TOAD plc, a vehicle technology company.
“Nearly one million U.K. households connect to the Internet while 2.2
million people have access at work,” said Turnbull. “This means the Internet is poised to grow significantly in the U.K. over the next couple of years.
Additionally, U.K. vehicle sales total approximately $100 billion per year, making this market ideal for Auto-By-Tel.”
Auto-By-Tel reports it is currently in the process of finalizing its
business model for the U.K. In the coming months it will be
identifying dealers and conducting dealer training. After the UK,
Auto-By-Tel sees France, Germany, Japan, and Brazil as potential markets
with a suitable combination of Internet growth and a high volume of
vehicle sales.
