AutoTrader Begins Certified Used Vehicle Advertising

ATLANTA, Sept. 30 -- AutoTrader.com, the number one automotive classifieds site on the planet, announced today its ongoing commitment to nationwide brand marketing and advertising with its launch of a new online certified ad campaign. The new campaign contains fresh creative elements and is running throughout the AutoTrader.com Web site (http://www.autotrader.com ) and on partner sites such as AOL, Netscape, CompuServe and AOL Local.

Three distinct banner ad looks convey the message that AutoTrader.com, with thirteen certified partners including Acura, Audi, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Jeep, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercury, Plymouth and Toyota, has the largest aggregate online inventory of certified cars. Visitors to AutoTrader.com can search for certified only or, within a larger search, pull out the certified listings.

Ads also focus on building awareness of the certified category as a whole by linking visitors to the educational section of the AutoTrader.com site. Car shoppers can research what a certified car is, compare certified programs and learn about the benefits of owning a certified car. These include extended warranties, special financing, roadside assistance and the general peace of mind that comes from purchasing a vehicle that has passed a rigorous manufacturer-backed inspection.

"The new campaign establishes AutoTrader.com as the leader in the online certified category, based on having the most certified partners and the most certified inventory," said Clark Wood, vice president of marketing, AutoTrader.com. "Online advertising continues to reach our target demographic by building nationwide awareness of certified and AutoTrader.com's offerings."

As a result of AutoTrader.com's tremendous brand recognition, the company has set and broken traffic records to its site, reaching more than 7 million unique monthly visitors, conducting more than 30 million vehicle searches per month from a database of 2.1 million new, used and certified per-owned vehicles. AutoTrader.com's on-going User Profile and Site Satisfaction studies have shown consumer demand for certified is on the rise. One out of two AutoTrader.com site users indicated they are likely to search for a certified vehicle.