Profile: Autobytel Inc (ABTL.OQ)
5.50USD
1 Aug 2013
$0.12 (+2.23%)
$5.38
$5.45
$5.68
$5.35
23,626
8,477
$5.68
$3.41
Autobytel Inc. (Autobytel), incorporated on May 17, 1996, is an automotive marketing services company, which assists automotive retail dealers (Dealers) and automotive manufacturers (Manufacturers) market and sells new and used vehicles to consumers through its programs for online lead referrals (Leads), Dealer marketing products and services, and online advertising programs and data products. The Company’s consumer-facing automotive Websites (Company Websites), which include the Company's flagship Website Autobytel.com, provides consumers with information and tools to aid them with their automotive purchase decisions and the ability to submit inquiries requesting Dealers to contact the consumers regarding purchasing or leasing vehicles (Vehicle Leads). For consumers who may not be able to secure loans through conventional lending sources, the Company's Company Websites provide these consumers the ability to submit inquiries requesting Dealers or other lenders.
Vehicle Lead Programs
Dealers participate in the Company's Vehicle Lead programs, and Manufacturers participate in its Vehicle Lead programs, its display advertising programs, and its direct marketing programs, reaching consumers that are in the market to acquire a vehicle. For consumers, the Company provides, at no cost to the consumer, an easy way to obtain valuable information to assist them in their vehicle shopping process. Leads may be submitted by consumers through the Company's Company Websites or through non-Company Websites. For consumers using the Company's Company Websites, the Company provides research information, including vehicle specification data, safety data, pricing data, photos, videos, regional rebate and incentive data, and additional tools, such as the compare and configuration tools, to assist them in this process. The Company also provides additional content on its Company Websites, including its database of articles, such as consumer and professional reviews, and other analyses. In addition automotive information is also available on the Company's Company Websites to assist consumers with specific vehicle research, such as the trade-in value of their current vehicle.
The Company's Vehicle Lead program for new vehicles allows consumers to submit requests for pricing and availability of specific makes and models. A new Vehicle Lead provides information regarding the make and model of a vehicle, and may also include additional data regarding the consumer's needs, including any vehicle trade-in, whether the consumer wishes to lease or buy, and other options that are important to the vehicle acquisition decision. A Lead will usually also include the consumer's name, phone number, and email address and may include a home address.
The Company's Leads are subject to a quality verification that is designed to maintain the high quality of the Company's Leads and increase the Lead closing rates for its Lead customers. Quality verification includes the validation of name, phone number, email address, and postal address. The Company's quality verification also involves systems, as well as partnerships with vendors specializing in customer validation. After a Lead has been subjected to quality verification, if the Company has placement coverage for the Lead within its own Dealer network, the Company sends the Lead to Dealers that sell the type of vehicle requested in the consumer's geographic area. The Company also sends an email message to the consumer with the Dealer's name and phone number and if the Dealer has a dedicated Internet manager, the name of that manager. Dealers contact the consumer, generally within 24 hours of receiving the Lead, with price quote and availability information for the requested vehicle.
The Company's used Vehicle Lead program allows consumers to search for used vehicles according to specific search parameters, such as the price, make, model, mileage, year and location of the vehicle. The consumer is able to locate and display the description, price, and, if available, digital images of vehicles that satisfy the consumer's search parameters. The consumer can then submit a Lead for additional information regarding a specific vehicle that the Company then delivers to the Dealer offering the vehicle. In addition to sending Leads directly to Dealers through the Company's Lead delivery system, consumers may choose to contact the Dealer using a toll free number posted next to the vehicle search results.
Finance Lead Program
The Company's Finance Lead program is designed to provide consumers who may not be able to secure loans through conventional lending sources the opportunity to obtain vehicle financing and other services from Dealers or finance institutions offering vehicle financing to these consumers. Consumers can submit a request for vehicle financing or submit a credit questionnaire for a credit report or other credit services that are provided by third party providers. Finance Leads are forwarded to the nearest participating Dealer that offers financing or, if a Dealer is not available, to an automotive finance institution. The Company charges each Dealer and finance institution that participates in the Finance Lead programs a monthly subscription or per Lead fee. Revenues from Finance Leads accounted for 9% of total revenues as of December 31, 2012. The Company has a call center program that consists of telephone surveys of Finance Lead consumers. In addition, the Company inquires about the consumer's interest in obtaining information or quotes for relevant products and services, including credits report repair and vehicle loan refinancing, offered by third parties. If the consumer expresses an interest, the Company refers the consumer to the third party and obtain a referral fees.
Other Dealer Products and Services
In conjunction with the Company's automotive Vehicle Lead programs, the Company offers products and services that assist Dealers in connecting with in-market consumers and closing vehicle sales. iControl by Autobytel iControl by Autobytel is the Company's technology that allows Dealers many options to filter and control their Vehicle Leads. iControl by Autobytel can be controlled at the dealership or at the Dealer group level from a Web-based, easy-to-use console that makes it quick and simple for dealerships to change their Lead acquisition strategy; to adjust for inventory conditions at their stores, and industry patterns (such as increases in gas prices or changes in consumer demand). Dealers can manage their Vehicle Leads, which include lead Web source, territory and make/model.
As of December 31, 2013, the Company has approximately one-half of its new vehicle Dealers participating in its iControl by Autobytel product. WebLeads+ is designed to work in connection with a Dealer's participation in the Company's Lead programs, WebLeads+ offers a Dealer multiple coupon options that display timely and relevant marketing messages to consumers visiting the Dealer's Website. Email Manager provides, on behalf of the Dealers, timely and relevant follow up emails to consumers who have submitted Leads on scheduled intervals following a consumer's Lead submission. After submission of a Lead, Lead Call provides a live phone call to the Dealer to ensure that the Dealer contacts the consumer in a timely manner.
Advertising Programs
The Company's Company Websites attract an audience of prospective automotive buyers that advertisers can target through display advertising. A primary way advertisers use the Company's Company Websites to reach consumers is through vehicle content targeting. The Company sells fixed placement advertising across its Company Websites and offers Manufacturers sponsorship opportunities to assist in their efforts both in terms of customer retention and conquest strategies. The Company also has a direct marketing platform that enables Manufacturers to selectively target in-market consumers during the often-extended vehicle shopping process. The Company's Company Websites offers manufacturers the opportunity to feature their makes and models within contextual content.
Company Address
Autobytel Inc
Suite 200, 18872 MacArthur Blvd
IRVINE CA 92612-1400
P: +1949.2254500
F: +1302.6745266
Company Web Links
| Name | Compensation |
|---|---|
Michael Fuchs |
-- |
Jeffrey Coats |
917,312 |
Curtis DeWalt |
381,757 |
Glenn Fuller |
438,878 |
Kimberly Boren |
-- |

