Amsterdam - February 2nd, 2000 - Autobytel.com (Nasdaq: ABTL), the leading international automotive e-commerce provider, today announced that e-LaSer, a leader in customer services and e-commerce in Europe, will invest a minimum of US$3 million in Autobytel.Europe. e-LaSer is a subsidiary of LASER-Lafayette Services, the first European group specialized in services and technologies dedicated to the retail and consumer markets.
Autobytel.Europe and e-LaSer intend to cooperate in innovative customer relationship management, loyalty programs services and e-commerce cross-fertilization. e-LaSer is pioneering e-commerce customer relationship management and loyalty program services throughout Europe.
"As Autobytel.com grows in Europe, e-LaSer will be one of our most significant market partners," said Mark Lorimer, President and CEO of Autobytel.com. "We are very excited to be embarking upon this relationship with a firm that provides such innovative customer services to the European marketplace."
"We are delighted to work with Autobytel, one of the most pioneering and innovative internet services, whose resounding success is characteristic of the far-reaching changes shaping the new economy", said Philippe Lemoine, Chairman and CEO of LASER and Co-President of Galeries Lafayette Group.
Autobytel.Europe is a majority owned subsidiary of Autobytel.com which offers support services to Autobytel sites in individual countries in Continental Europe. Including the latest round from e-LaSer, total funding to date for Autobytel.Europe from such partners as Inchcape plc, Pon Holdings B.V., and GE Equity has reached $36.7 million.
