Autobytel Adds a Little Yahoo! Exposure

Online vehicle marketing company Autobytel Inc. signed a deal that lets visitors to Yahoo Autos have access to Autobytel’s network of about 6,700 Internet-connected dealerships.

Irvine, Calif.-based Autobytel did not disclose financial arrangements of the deal, but the company is on a bit of a roll, having been issued a patent earlier this week entitled “Real Time Communication of Purchase Requests.”

“This agreement with Yahoo Autos extends our ability to provide more consumers with our … service, while delivering even more customers to our network of accredited dealers,” said Jeffrey Schwartz, president and CEO of Autobytel.

“Through agreements with companies like Autobytel, Yahoo Autos has established a compelling destination that provides consumers the information and tools they need to buy a car — all in one place,” said Elizabeth Blair, vice president and general manager of Yahoo’s business and local media division.

The new Autobytel patent is for “a method and system for forming and submitting Purchase Requests over the Internet and other computer networks,” the company said.

“As our business continues to diversify and expand, we intend to obtain patents on Autobytel proprietary technology that, we believe, will continue to drive innovations in the automotive and many other industries,” Schwartz said.

The Autobytel news follows on an earlier announcement this week that the MSN Carpoint online automotive service established a new relationship with FordDirect, the joint venture between Ford Motor Co. and its Ford Division dealers. That deal enables FordDirect dealers to receive online car and truck sales leads from visitors to Carpoint.