MIRAMAR, Fla. –  CompuPay Inc., one of the country’s leading providers of payroll, tax filing and employer-related services, today announced that it has been named a national member benefit partner for the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA). For over 66 years, NIADA has provided advocacy, education, industry information, member benefits and services to its members within the used vehicle retail industry.

As part of NIADA’s commitment to their members, NIADA Member Services partners with industry leaders to provide a broad portfolio of high-quality, competitively priced services that have the potential to enhance members’ businesses. The partnership with CompuPay offers NIADA’s more than 20,000 members access to discounted online payroll processing as well as access to payroll-related products through the NIADA National Member Benefit Program.

Scott Lilja, vice president, Member Services for NIADA, remarked, “Providing our members access to services and opportunity for savings is a high priority for NIADA Member Services. CompuPay’s products are significant additions to the portfolio of services we make available to our members.”

“I am very impressed with the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s commitment to providing outstanding benefits to its members,” remarked Kathey Palmer, senior vice president, business development for CompuPay.  “CompuPay is proud to be associated with an organization that is invested in the viability and profitability of its membership and we are pleased to offer the ease and convenience of online payroll as well as access to payroll-related products, such as 401(k) and workers’ compensation insurance.

About CompuPay

CompuPay Inc., a BenefitMall Company, was founded in 1980 and today is the second largest privately held payroll company in the U.S. and fourth largest overall. Its growing network of local offices processes payroll for tens of thousands of companies ranging in size from one to over 5,000 employees in all 50 states. The company offers payroll and employer-related services such as workers’ compensation insurance, employee benefits, retirement plans and Section 125 and 132 plans to clients seeking highly flexible, innovative solutions to meet their growing business needs.

About National Independent Automobile Dealers Association

The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA), founded in 1946, has represented quality independent automobile dealers for over 66 years. NIADA provides valuable resources to member dealers, allowing them to become more successful within the used motor vehicle industry. NIADA members join a network of over 20,000 professional auto dealers who share a dream of financial prosperity for their businesses. NIADA is also a legislative advocate — protecting business interests of independent auto dealers. The association is dedicated to providing industry education, information, services and benefits designed to prepare members for an ever-changing marketplace.

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1ca8G)

MENLO PARK, Calif. – Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 421,233,615 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $38 per share. The shares are expected to begin trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on May 18, 2012, under the symbol “FB.” Facebook is offering 180,000,000 shares of Class A common stock and selling stockholders are offering 241,233,615 shares of Class A common stock. Closing of the offering is expected to occur on May 22, 2012, subject to customary closing conditions.

In addition, Facebook and the selling stockholders have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 63,185,042 additional shares of Class A common stock to cover over-allotments, if any.

Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, Goldman, Sachs & Co., BofA Merrill Lynch, Barclays, Allen & Company LLC, Citigroup, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank Securities are serving as book runners for the offering. RBC Capital Markets and Wells Fargo Securities are serving as active co-managers.

The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus related to the offering may be obtained from: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department (Tel: +1 866 718 1649; e-mail: prospectus@morganstanley.com); J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, (Tel: +1 866 803 9204); or Goldman, Sachs & Co., 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, Attention: Prospectus Department (Tel: +1 866 471 2526, e-mail: prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com).

A registration statement related to these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1caHI)

This is the POV of the Year Award’s third year. In 2010, the ‘07-‘10 Toyota Camry was selected. In 2011, the ’06-’09 Ford Fusion took top honors. Each POVY trophy is custom made for that year’s recipient. Last year’s award featured a 17” 1918 Model T steering wheel. It now sits below a portrait of Henry Ford at Ford’s World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.

This year’s trophy includes an authentic 17” 1937 Chevrolet pickup truck steering wheel. The unique award was accepted by Laura L. Toole, Manager, Communications, GM Northeast Region. In accepting the award, Laura said, “The Silverado has demonstrated for decades that it is the most dependable, longest lasting pickup on the market and this award is further proof that Chevrolet is delivering the products that more people want with the right technologies and capabilities at a true value.”

The POVY was presented in association with NEMPA at a banquet at the Faculty Club of the MIT Sloan School of Management following NEMPA’s annual Technology Conference. Wayne Carini, the host of Chasing Classic Cars on the Velocity Network, hosted the event along with NEMPA President Keith Griffin. Said Keith, “NEMPA is proud to present this award in conjunction with WheelsTV because the previously-owned vehicle market is where most Americans buy their cars and trucks. The selection of the Silverado was an excellent choice because of its durability and functionality.”

In presenting the prestigious award, Jim Barisano stated, “Fuel economy and alternative fuels are all the buzz today and every family needs a fuel efficient, reliable day-to-day driver. But, as has been the case for hundreds of years, having a solid workhorse in the barn remains essential for many families and businesses. This year’s POV of the Year recipient, the ’07 to ’10 Chevy Silverado, is exactly that, having proven itself through years of dependable service.”

About The New England Motor Press Association: NEMPA (http://www.NEMPA.org) coordinates professional coverage of the auto industry in six New England states. NEMPA’s 55 working media members appear on network and cable TV, on the Internet and radio, and in regional and national newspapers and magazines. NEMPA members reach virtually all of New England’s 14.5 million citizens—in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont—and they understand their audience’s demographics, buying habits and automotive preferences.

About WheelsTV: WheelsTV (http://wheelstvnetwork.com) is the first multi-screen program service in the U.S. devoted exclusively to consumers’ interests in cars, trucks and motorcycles—serving both the enthusiast and motoring public with a wide spectrum of vehicle-based entertainment, news and information. WheelsTV tests and researches hundreds of pre-owned vehicles each year in creating the video series, POV Reviews. POV Reviews help used car buyers to select the most reliable, economical, safe and comfortable vehicles for their needs. WheelsTV is a service of Automotive Networks Corporation, headquartered in Acton, Massachusetts.

NEW YORK – Data through April 2012, released today by S&P Indices and Experian for the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices, a comprehensive measure of changes in consumer credit defaults showed that, with the exception of bank cards, all loan types saw a decrease in default rates for the fourth consecutive month. In addition, the four that did decrease posted their lowest rates since at least the end of the recent economic crisis. The national composite declined to 1.86% in April from its 1.96% March rate. The first mortgage default rate decreased from March’s 1.88% to April’s 1.76%. The second mortgage default rate also declined from 1.03% in March to 0.93% in April. Auto loans default rate hit its lowest in its eight year history — 1.07% in April down from March’s 1.11%. Bank card was the only loan type where default rates increased marginally in April, to 4.49% from its 4.47% March level.

“April data show the continuation of the positive trend we saw in the first quarter of 2012,” says David M. Blitzer, Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee for S&P Indices. “Not only have we continued the general downward trend in consumer default rates that began in the spring of 2009, but we appear to be reaching new lows across many of the loan types. The first four months of 2012 show broad based declines in default rates with first and second mortgage, auto and composite default rates all reaching new post-recession lows.

“The first mortgage default rate fell by 12 basis points in April over March and is the lowest rate since July 2007.  The second mortgage rate also fell during the month, by 10 basis points, and is at a seven-plus year low.  The auto loans default rate hits its lowest rate in our history of these data.  While the bank card rate rose, it was not by much and is still close to the recent low reported in February.

“Four of the five cities we cover saw their default rates drop, with all four at post-recession lows.  For the fourth consecutive month, Chicago saw a decline, moving from 2.84% back in December 2011 to 2.21% in April.  That’s a 0.63 percentage point decline and a new low. New York and Miami both fell for the third consecutive month. New York dropped almost a quarter percentage point over the month, from 2.01% in March to 1.78% in April. Miami decreased by almost a half a percentage point, from March’s 3.62% to April’s 3.14%.  While still the highest default rate, Miami hit a post-recession low.  Dallas hits its lowest rate in its eight years of history, moving from 1.44% in March to 1.25% in April and retains the lowest rate among the five cities we follow. Los Angeles is the only city where default rates remained flat, at 1.88%.”

The table below summarizes the April 2012 results for the S&P/Experian Credit Default Indices. These data are not seasonally adjusted and are not subject to revision.

The table below provides the S&P/Experian Consumer Default Composite Indices for the five MSAs:

About S&P Indices
S&P Indices, a leading brand of the McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), maintains a wide variety of investable and benchmark indices to meet an array of investor needs. Over $1.45 trillion is directly indexed to our indices, which includes the S&P 500, the world’s most followed stock market index, the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, the S&P Global BMI, an index with approximately 11,000 constituents, the S&P GSCI, the industry’s most closely watched commodities index, and the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index, the premier investable index for U.S. municipal bonds. For more information, please visit: www.standardandpoors.com/indices.

It is not possible to invest directly in an index. S&P Indices does not sponsor, endorse, sell, or promote any S&P index-based investment product. This document does not constitute an offer of services in jurisdictions where S&P Indices or its affiliates do not have the necessary licenses. S&P Indices receives compensation in connection with licensing its indices to third parties.

About Experian
Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 80 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended 31 April 2011 was $4.2 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 41 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

The LAW California F&I Library, which is an outgrowth of the strategic alliance formed between Reynolds and the CNCDA in Oct. 2011, offers dealers a set of standard F&I forms designed  to help manage risk, provide common defenses in litigation, and streamline processes.

“In today’s constantly evolving regulatory environment, automobile dealerships, state agencies, and financial institutions continue to look for ways to ensure appropriate levels of compliance and to gain efficiencies in their F&I processes,” said Jerry Kirwan, senior vice president of Document Solutions at Reynolds and Reynolds. “The LAW California F&I Library is a big step forward in helping dealerships manage risk and maintain compliance, while also streamlining the F&I process.”

The LAW California F&I Library was developed and will be maintained using the combined legal expertise of Reynolds’ Director of Compliance Terry O’Loughlin and the CNCDA Legal Department. Additional support for the project was provided by Manning, Leaver, Bruder & Berberich; Rob Cohen of Auto Advisory Services; Robert Robards of Automotive System Analysis; and Hudson Cook, LLP.

CNCDA President Peter Welch said: “At CNCDA, one of our highest priorities is to help dealers reduce litigation risk by providing legally reviewed documents that help standardize the F&I process. The CNCDA board chose Reynolds for this project because they share the same vision and bring to the table the expertise necessary to create and maintain these standard documents. The LAW California F&I Library will be instrumental in helping California new car dealers potentially reduce liability, provide common defenses in litigation, and streamline processes.”

Reynolds and Reynolds is the leader in serving automobile dealerships nationwide with standard and custom business and vehicle sales forms to help dealers manage their operations and serve their customers more effectively. The flagship product of Reynolds Document Solutions is the LAW^® 553 universal retail sales contract – the retail contract most widely used by franchised car dealers across the United States. In addition, Reynolds offers a full suite of other document solutions suitable for F&I processes.

CNCDA is the country’s largest state association of franchised new car and truck dealers, representing more than 1,200 members. Last year CNCDA dealer members sold over 2 million new and used cars with aggregate total sales of more than $65 billion.

About Reynolds Documents Solutions

Reynolds document solutions and forms are available in all 50 states and have been endorsed by a number of state automobile dealers associations for the benefits they provide for dealerships, lenders, and consumers.

About Reynolds

Reynolds and Reynolds – headquartered in Dayton, Ohio – was founded in 1866 as a business forms printer.  Today, Reynolds is recognized as the leading provider of automobile dealership software, services, and forms that help dealerships manage business operations and improve business results.  (www.reyrey.com)

WASHINGTON – Since establishing itself as an innovator in mobile technology with the introduction of an app for the Apple iPhone® in October 2009, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (MBFS) is seeing steady growth in the number of customers using mobile channels for account management.

Today, nearly 10 percent of the payments MBFS receives through its online payment system are submitted via mobile channels.  In the first quarter 2012, the company received $14.1 million, more than double last year’s $6.5 million.  MBFS sees considerably higher customer satisfaction index (CSI) scores, approximately 6-7 points, for customers using mobile account management options.

“We quickly recognized that mobile devices were a preferred channel for our customer base, and we’ve tailored our account management offerings around these platforms,” Matt Wiethoff, Manager, Business to Consumer Marketing for Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, told members of the Washington Automotive Press Association today at its monthly meeting at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

The iPhone app launch in 2009 was followed in early 2010 with the launch of a mobile version of mbfs.com, accessible from all smart phone devices and capable of accepting monthly payments on MBFS loans and leases. In 2011, MBFS further enhanced the app for iPad® compatibility.

At the close of 2011, the first full year both mobile payment channels were available, the company collected $38 million in payments.  MBFS expects to process over $68 million  in mobile payments in 2012, eclipsing the total funds collected through mobile channels for the nearly three-year history of its mobile program.

MBFS saw a growth rate of 127 percent in the mobile payment channel in 2011, and continues to evaluate new technologies with the goal of providing account information anytime, anywhere.  With over 40% of the total retail portfolio of 530,000 accounts using online, self-service methods, MBFS recognizes the value of emerging technologies in servicing its consumers.

Wiethoff recapped Mercedes-Benz Financial Services’ recent initiative to update the app for the iPhone and iPad, adding a sales lead channel for its dealers.  Continued expansion of mobile offerings could lead to additional platforms, with new and emerging technologies always being evaluated.

iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.  App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services B2C Mobile Strategy Chronology

• MBFS launches iPhone app for customers to manage accounts, October 2009
• MBFS launches smartphone capability to manage accounts, February 2010
• MBFS has received approximately $68 million as of Q1 2012 in retail lease/loan payments from iPhones and smartphones via a payment channel established October 2009.

About Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich., with Business Center Operations in Fort Worth, Texas, provides brand-specific financial services and products for Mercedes-Benz automotive dealers and their retail customers. It also provides financial support to smart USA dealers and customers.

In the U.S. trucking industry, it conducts business as Daimler Truck Financial and finances Daimler Trucks North America commercial vehicles branded Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas-Built Buses. Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC serves as the headquarters for operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, and has approximately 1,500 employees. It is a company of the Daimler Financial Services Group, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, which does business in 39 countries with an employee base of approximately 6,700. Daimler Financial Services is one of the leading financial services organizations worldwide.  For more information, go to: www.mbfs.com/corpor facebook.com/mbfsamericas.

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1c1Kq)

Blue Link® Mobile App Highlights

• Completely redesigned interface and navigation
• Swipe gestures allow quick access to core features
• Remotely access many Blue Link® features found on MyHyundai.com
• Manage multiple Blue Link-enrolled vehicles
• Remotely control vehicle functions: Door lock/unlock, horn & lights, lights-only and remote vehicle start (not available on all models)
• Search, save and send POIs to vehicles for in-car navigation
• Innovative new features: car finder, parking meter/timer and vehicle diagnostics
• Remotely manage Blue Link alerts and notifications

Blue Link is an innovative telematics solution from Hyundai that combines safety, service and infotainment into a complete package. Blue Link is powered by Agero’s next-generation telematics platform, which offers a flexible architecture that supports multi-modal interfaces for vehicle owners. “This improved app demonstrates one of Agero’s core capabilities: developing customized user experience interfaces, from end to end, on behalf of our automotive OEM clients,” said Tom Metzger, senior vice president of Global Sales & Account Management (Connected Vehicle Services) at Agero. “In addition to increasing the Blue Link app’s capabilities, we made it more intuitive for users, while also extending the unique Hyundai brand experience to vehicle owners.”

The refreshed app is part of a series of enhancements planned around Blue Link, including a re-designed Blue Link section on HyundaiNews.com and 12 all-new instructional videos designed to familiarize viewers with Blue Link features. The videos, which feature actual Hyundai employees, can be seen on Hyundai’s YouTube channel, HyundaiBlueLink.com or in a dedicated section on HyundaiNews.com.

Hyundai offers a complimentary trial period for Blue Link-equipped vehicles. Customers opting-in for a no obligation auto-renewal can receive up to one year of Blue Link Assurance and 6 months of Blue Link Essentials and Guidance with access to the Blue Link app and its innovative features.

INTUITIVE INTERFACE DESIGN
Customer feedback and real-world usability testing played a key role in the development of the all-new Blue Link® mobile app. “We looked at how our customers use their Smartphones to enhance various aspects of their lives,” said Michael Deitz, senior group manager, Blue Link. “We wanted to design an app that allows them to enhance their Hyundai ownership experience through Blue Link.” Navigation elements are designed to reduce the steps needed to access Blue Link® features and services by leveraging familiar Smartphone touch commands.  A new swipe carousel allows users to quickly access core features without needing to take several steps. Shortcut buttons allow one-touch access to vehicle diagnostics and POIs while the main menu allows one-finger access to all features within the application.

REMOTE ACCESS FEATURES
Blue Link® Essentials subscribers can access a number of key vehicle functions remotely from the mobile application without the need to be in the proximity of the vehicle. Remote Door Lock or unlock allows for remote control and convenience from virtually anywhere. Remote Horn & Lights allows the subscriber to remotely activate the horn and lights. Remote Lights allows subscriber to remotely activate the vehicle lights only. Remote Vehicle Start, which has been expanded to include more Hyundai models, allows the subscriber to remotely start their vehicle, an especially convenient feature in cold states during winter months. Vehicles equipped with push-button start and automatic or dual-clutch transmissions are supported for Remote Vehicle Start. For added security, all remote access features require the vehicle PIN to be entered prior to the command being sent.

ENHANCED POI FUNCTIONALITY
The all-new Blue Link® mobile app includes new useful POI (Point of Interest) features that will come in handy for Blue Link® Guidance subscribers. Included is the ability to search POIs using the Smartphone’s on-screen keyboard by entering the name, city, state and/or zip. Searches can be done using the Smartphone’s built-in location service or by manually specifying the location. POIs then can be saved to the phone for quick access. Subscribers also have the ability to send the POI directly to their Hyundai vehicle or by email to a friend through the application. POIs sent to the vehicle also may be saved for later use via the POI History function. Blue Link®-equipped vehicles are not required to have a touch-screen navigation system to take advantage of Guidance features. Vehicles not equipped with touch-screen navigation will display navigation information on the standard vehicle audio screen using Blue Link’s Turn-by-Turn feature.

POCKET-SIZED PEACE OF MIND
Blue Link® subscribers can rest assured knowing that trained specialists are available 24/7 to help when needed most. Taking it one step further, the mobile application includes speed dial buttons to contact Roadside Assistance and Blue Link. A Vehicle Diagnostics screen provides access to critical maintenance information and the ability to view their Monthly Vehicle Report. Essentials subscribers can easily schedule a service appointment with their preferred dealer without making a phone call. Blue Link® alerts also can be toggled remotely from the application without visiting MyHyundai.com.

INNOVATIVE NEW FEATURES
In typical Hyundai fashion, Blue Link aims to set the standard for vehicle telematics through its innovative features and exceptional value. A variety of unique features have been included in the Blue Link® mobile app. Users can be a step ahead of Parking Enforcement via the built-in Parking Meter/Timer function. Car Finder allows Essentials subscribers to either search for their vehicle if they are within a 1-mile radius of their vehicle or save its location, useful when needing to recall a specific location of their vehicle.

BLUE LINK® PACKAGES

Blue Link Assurance package:

• Automatic Collision Notification (ACN) and Assistance – Provides immediate assistance when an accident occurs and an airbag is deployed.  In this event, an ACN signal, containing customer and location information, will automatically be transmitted to the response center.  Upon receipt of the signal, a response specialist will attempt to establish voice communications with the vehicle occupants and forward any pertinent information to emergency services.
• SOS Emergency Assistance – Customers request emergency 911 assistance by pressing the dedicated SOS button in the vehicle.  This action transmits vehicle information and location to specially-trained response specialists, who assist in coordinating the dispatch of appropriate emergency assistance to the customer.  The response specialist remains on the line with the customer until advised assistance has arrived.
• Enhanced Roadside Assistance – Enables customers to utilize their Hyundai Assurance 24/7  Roadside Assistance via a single in-vehicle button-press. With Blue Link, vehicle information (including location) is automatically transmitted to a response center, enabling the specialist to dispatch assistance more quickly and efficiently for vehicle assistance and retrieval.

Blue Link Essentials package:
Remote Access:

• Remote Door Lock/Unlock - Enables locking or unlocking vehicle doors via a toll-free number, owner’s website, or mobile phone application.
• Remote Horn and Lights - Enables activating the horn and/or lights via a toll-free number, owner’s website, or mobile phone application.
• Panic Notification – Notifies customers when the panic button on their vehicle key fob has been activated, signifying when a family member or other vehicle occupant may be in danger.  Notifications are configured online and occur via email or text message.
• Remote Vehicle Start – Enables customers to start the vehicle via owner’s website or toll-free number, or mobile phone application.
• Car Finder – (Exclusively available via mobile app) Allows you to find your vehicle on a map if you are within a 1-mile radius of your vehicle and gives you the ability to save your vehicles location for future reference.

Convenience:

• Alarm Notification – Notifies customers when and where the vehicle alert is activated via a text message, email or an automated phone call.
• Quick Tips – Provides quick reference assistance for primary vehicle feature location and function.
• Location Sharing – Enables sending vehicle location to select friends and members of social networking sites, including Facebook – directly from the vehicle.
• Voice Text Messaging – Enables hands-free outgoing text messaging to SMS text recipients allowing for distraction-free driving experience.

Vehicle Self Diagnostics:

• Automated Diagnostic Trouble Code Notification – Provides explanation and repair assistance using vehicle data and off-board diagnosis capabilities to better inform the customer of vehicle trouble alerts.  A combination of in-vehicle display alerts and guided voice messages provides customers with additional instructions (information also sent to the customer’s preferred dealer to assist with the repair process).
• Maintenance Alert – Notifies customers in vehicle as well as via website, email or SMS message that an upcoming service is due at various thresholds leading up to the event.  Configured online, the alerts explain what is included in particular maintenance intervals.
• Recall Advisor – Provides all pertinent recall information should a recall be initiated.
• Web Vehicle Diagnostics – Provides a report of vehicle diagnostics, eco-coach performance and other important information in a monthly email report and web page update, starting 30 days after registering with the Blue Link service.

Theft Protection:

• Stolen Vehicle Recovery – In the event a customer’s vehicle is reported stolen (and a stolen vehicle report has been filed with the appropriate police department), the response center can provide assistance to the police in an attempt to recover the vehicle.
• Stolen Vehicle Slowdown – Used with Stolen Vehicle Recovery, this enables law enforcement to gradually reduce the engine power of the vehicle, thus slowing it down to safe levels. A warning will be transmitted to the driver prior to the slowdown procedure.
• Vehicle Immobilization – Used with Stolen Vehicle Recovery, this enables law enforcement to send a signal to the vehicle which immobilizes the engine management system, thus preventing startup. This capability is only valid when the ignition is off, but the command can be saved by the engine ECU for later immobilization if the vehicle is on or in motion at the time of signal transmission.

Safeguard:

• Valet Alert – Enables alert via email, text message or automated phone message when the customer’s vehicle moves beyond a prescribed distance threshold after leaving the vehicle with the valet.
• Geofence – Enables monitoring vehicle movement in and out of pre-defined regions configured on the owner’s website. When the vehicle enters or leaves a designated region, the customer is notified by email, text message or automated phone message.
• Speed Alert – Notifies the customer via email, text message or automated phone message when their vehicle exceeds the specified speed threshold established on the owner’s website.  High value for parents of teen drivers and fleet customers.
• Curfew Alert - Notifies owners if the vehicle is being used outside a pre-determined time interval. Alerts are configured online and sent via email, text message and/or automated phone message.

Blue Link Guidance package:

• TBT (Turn-by-turn) Navigation Service Turn-by-turn navigation guidance provided for downloaded Points of Interest. Both visual and audio guidance is provided.
• POI Web Search by advanced voice recognition system and download – Enables Point-of-Interest searches using an automated voice system. Results can be downloaded to the vehicle navigation system. Live operators provide additional support, if needed.
• Daily Route Guidance with Traffic Condition – Enables customers to pre-define several routes to a common destination and receive a regularly-scheduled traffic alerts for traffic delays along those routes. Results include flow and incident data, along with “Fastest Route” recommendation.
• Traffic – Provides traffic information surrounding the customer’s vehicle and in the nearby area, based on preferences established using the owner’s website.
• Gas Station Locations and Gas Prices – Locates the nearest gas stations by price and provides brand and regular unleaded fuel price. Results are played back via automated voice, and can be downloaded to the vehicle’s navigation system.
• Eco-Coach – Tracks the customer’s driving performance habits (MPG and CO2 emissions) on a continual and historical basis. Results and environmentally responsible driving recommendations are provided on the owner’s website.
• Restaurant Ratings – Provides restaurant ratings for local restaurants with address download for turn-by-turn navigation or onboard navigation.
• Weather – Provides weather forecasts for the immediate area or for customer-defined locations within the owner website.

More details on Hyundai Blue Link are available at www.HyundaiUSA.com/BlueLink.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance.

AGERO
Agero is a leading provider of connected vehicle services for the automotive, insurance and aftermarket industries and is a market leader in roadside assistance and claims management. Based in Medford, Massachusetts, the company has operations throughout North America and offices for connected vehicle programs in Europe. For more information, visit www.agero.com.

For more details on Hyundai Assurance, please visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com

What do you think of GM’s decision to pull its paid advertising from Facebook?

Asking The Right Questions:

Identifying customers who are more likely than average to buy is one of the things Business Intelligence can do for a dealer. It’s a simple question: who are your customers and why do they buy? Most of the time dealers will identify customers through a lead source and drop leads sources that don’t produce deals.What about the thousands of service customers and past customers who are looking, or could be looking to buy? Analyzing the customer base it was found that repeat customers were twice as likely to buy once they passed 60,000 miles. The lease customers were twice as likely to get another lease if they were in the second year of their lease and they had greater than $1000 in mileage penalties. These facts help target the dealership’s marketing efforts getting the most bang for the advertising buck.

Planting The Seeds:

Using our example we see that several customers are just below 60,000 miles on their vehicle. Sending a free oil change coupon with an offer of a free appraisal done in the service department is a great way to “prime the pump”. Lease customers would get an oil change coupon and a reminder how that if they lease a new car mileage penalties on their current lease will be forgiven. The advertising dollar spent with a high probability of return is the dream of every General Manager. Instead of an expensive mailer or print ad that “shotguns” a low probability customer base the dealer selectively contacts fewer customers with a higher probability of buying.

Tender Loving Care:

If you know who are likely to become a repeat customer your Service Department can begin communicating with them early and often making sure they get every service special, car loaner, or a van pickup when their car is in the shop. That is not to say that all customers should not get VIP treatment but a dealer’s focus should always be on a deal.

Organizational Transformation:

Business Intelligence gets the right information to the dealership decision makers letting them concentrate on those things that work and shedding activities that have a low return on dollars and effort. The organization becomes leaner and meaner as better information drives organizational focus. Selling more cars and while spending less money is just the smart thing to do.

The agreement makes Edmunds.com’s data available through Nexteppe’s inControl Pro, a system used by dealers to compare their new and pre-owned vehicle prices with other dealers in the market. The tool also allows consumers to appraise their trade-in vehicles by giving them direct access to Edmunds.com’s True Market Value® (TMV®) pricing through participating dealership websites.

By integrating Edmunds.com data, Nexteppe instantly boosts its product’s value to participating dealers. A recent internal analysis found that “deeply engaged” car shoppers use Edmunds.com more than any other 3^rd party automotive site. The analysis also found that 90 percent of visitors who submit a lead through Edmunds.com purchase a vehicle within 70 days.

“We chose to partner with Edmunds.com because of its reputation as the leading authority for both automotive consumers and retailers,” said Nexteppe CEO Ken DellaPorta. “Edmunds.com’s data helps our dealership partners improve their customers’ online experience and will allow them to attract more visitors and to sell more cars quickly.”

Nexteppe also enhances inControl Pro’s Comment Builder tool by importing Edmunds.com’s consumer reviews, which are then made available to shoppers on the dealer site. According to The Nielsen Company’s latest “Global Trust in Advertising” report, online consumer reviews are the second most trusted source of brand information and messaging.

Edmunds.com’s makes its vehicle pricing and review data easily available through the company’s application programming interface (API). Developers can learn more about Edmunds.com’s API athttp://developer.edmunds.com/docs.

“Our API gives automotive information and shopping sites easy access to the depth of vehicle research data that only Edmunds.com can provide,” said Edmunds.com Chief Information Officer Philip Potloff. “Nexteppe’s integration of Edmunds.com data is exactly what we had in mind when the API was first made available to developers late last year.”

Dealerships have already responded favorably to Nexteppe’s affiliation with Edmunds.com in their evaluations of inControl Pro.

“Our dealerships using inControl Pro immediately know that dollar-for-dollar, it’s the best inventory marketing tool on the market,” said John Pickett, COO of The Atlantic Automotive Group. “By having access to a product that offers our dealers so much benefit at a cost that’s far less than other third-party providers, we’re going to see a great ROI.”

For more information on Nexteppe’s inControl Pro, please contact 888-572-8892.

About Edmunds.com, Inc. (http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/index.html)

Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its acclaimed mobile site, Edmunds.com Android App and five-starEdmunds iPhone and iPad apps make car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and on the go. Its automotive enthusiast web site, InsideLine.com, is the most-read car publication of its kind. Its highly regarded mobile site and iPhone app features the wireless Web’s most comprehensive gallery of automotive photos and videos. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on Twitter@edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook.

About Nexteppe (http://www.nexteppe.com)
Nexteppe provides dealerships with a dedicated support team and a full suite of all-in-one products including InControlPro, Comment Builder and ProSHOTS. Take your dealership inventory marketing and management to the next level with Nexteppe. Learn more about we can enhance your website’s design and enhance your inventory marketing and management by visiting us on the web or calling our New York office at 888-572-8892.