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Elle Online Launches Auto Buyer's Guide for Women

6 April 1998

Elle Online Launches Auto Buyer's Guide for Women

    NEW YORK, April 6 -- Women buy 50 percent of all automobiles
today, spending $81 billion a year, according to industry data.  And women
make up 42 percent of all online users, according to Jupiter Communications.
    With those thoughts in mind, Elle Online is teaming with Car and Driver to
launch the Auto Buyer's Guide for Women, available on America Online
(keyword:  Elle) and on the Internet ( http://www.ellemag.com ).  The Guide is a
product of Hachette Filipacchi New Media (HFNM).
    The Auto Buyer's Guide, set to debut April 1, offers the most complete
searchable vehicle database online, created by the editors of Car and Driver,
the foremost auto magazine.  The database includes "specs" and photos for
every car on the market, searchable by price range, by manufacturer and by
categories such as economy, midsize, luxury and SUV.
    The site is also offering additional information relevant to the female
car buyer, such as vehicle safety and financing options.
    "Statistics show that women are more likely than men to seek out
independent information when purchasing most items, including cars," comments
Ron Bernstein, publisher of Hachette Filipacchi New Media.  "Yet, up until
now, there's been nothing on the Web that takes that into consideration.  With
online car retailing already a $30 billion market, we felt the time for this
product was now."
    In general, women find the auto dealership experience an uncomfortable
one.  As such, the online environment provides women with the ideal
opportunity to gather information to facilitate the buying experience.  Women
can then walk into the dealership having done their homework.
    A limited number of sponsorships are being sold.  Confirmed sponsors to
date include AutoWeb and Acura.  Besides its prominent place on Elle Online,
the Guide will also be linked to online areas maintained by Woman's Day,
Mirabella, Top Model, Family Life, Premiere, Eating Well, George, Home and Met
Home.  All these sites are run by HFNM.
    Hachette Filipacchi New Media is the largest content provider to America
Online, with 23 available titles, including AOL versions of Elle, Mirabella,
George, Family Life, Woman's Day, Popular Photography, Road & Track, Stereo
Review, Home and Met Home.  HFNM also publishes several Web sites including
those for Elle, Car and Driver, Eating Well, and Premiere.

SOURCE  Hachette Filipacchi New Media