NEW YORK -- IBM Corp. and Automatic Data Processing Inc. on Thursday said they will launch an online service
through which auto dealers can offer customers personalized Web
pages to track their car history and maintenance.
IBM, which offers electronic business consulting services
to the auto industry, and ADP (NYSE: AUD), which provides information
systems to thousands of auto and truck dealers who use its
computer systems, will offer myautogarage.com to dealers and
manufacturers.
The dealers and manufacturers, in turn, will offer
participation in myautogarage.com as a free service to
individuals buying or leasing a new vehicle and to existing
customers. Customers will receive a Web site for each vehicle
they either own or operate.
Through the service, customers can make
service appointments, track their car history such as oil
changes and obtain manufacturing information.
Industry figures show that auto dealers are fast
approaching a time when nearly half their revenues comes from
service and maintenance.
Fighting the big guys
The service will help dealers compete more directly with
sites such as Carpoint, Microsoft Corp.'s (Nasdaq: MSFT) car-buying and
car-care information site.
"With myautogarage.com, vehicle owners can keep on top of
maintenance with a system that is as easy as surfing the Web or
checking e-mail," William Lang, IBM automotive industry practice
executive, said in a statement.
AutoNation Inc. (NYSE: AN), America's biggest network of car
dealers, will offer the online service through its dealer
network. Last year, AutoNation sold more than $1 billion worth
of vehicles over the Internet and expects to sell $1.5 billion
via the Web this year.
AutoNation's collective Web sites receive more than 1.4
million page visits each month.