PR Announcements

Cars.com Launches Free Car Shopping App for iPhone

CHICAGO – Feb. 5, 2010 – Cars.com announced today the availability of a free iPhone Cars.com car shopping application that helps mobile shoppers search dealer inventories and private-party listings to locate the vehicle they want. The app, which also works on the iPod Touch and upcoming iPad, can be downloaded from the App Store on iTunes.

“Nearly a third of all mobile visits to Cars.com are being made from the iPhone,” said Bill Swislow, Cars.com senior vice president of product. “We are excited to enhance the mobile experience for Apple users and reach a new audience of car shoppers by offering the first automotive shopping app for the iPhone that allows shoppers to find both new and used cars from a large selection of inventory.”

The Cars.com app gives car shoppers access to the most popular functionality on the Cars.com website. Shoppers can:

  • Search millions of new, used and certified vehicles based on make/model, distance and maximum price preferences.
  • Save specific dealerships and listings, along with notes and additional photos, to a favorites list for future access.
  • Locate nearby dealerships to contact them by email or phone, visit the store, view their complete inventory or access their traditional internet site.
  • Sort listings search results based on distance, mileage, price and model year.
  • Access affordability and payment calculators, Cars.com Smart Target Pricing for new cars and Kelley Blue Book Values.

Car shoppers who do not own an Apple device can conveniently access the Cars.com mobile site from any mobile browser.

“Mobile is an increasingly important channel for our business, now accounting for as much as 5 percent of our overall site traffic,” said Swislow. “We are always looking for ways to optimize that experience for shoppers who want on-the-go access to the information they need to make a confident car-buying decision. It is also critical for our advertisers, who are looking for new ways to reach ready-to-buy shoppers.”

Given its increased importance and appeal to consumers, Cars.com will feature its mobile shopping channel in its 2010 advertising campaign, kicking off this Sunday on the Super Bowl. An all-new 60-second spot will feature the life story of character Timothy Richman, who is showcased using Cars.com mobile to build his knowledge on a vehicle he plans to purchase.

Editor’s Note: The free Cars.com iPhone app is available for preview at this link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cars-com/id353263352?mt=8

About Cars.com
Cars.com is the leading destination for online car shoppers, offering credible, easy-to-understand information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a car. With comprehensive pricing information, side-by-side comparison tools, photo galleries, videos, unbiased editorial content and a large selection of new- and used-car inventory, Cars.com puts millions of car buyers in control of their shopping process with the information they need to make confident buying decisions.

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I heard there were 6,500 downloads during the super bowel. Not too shabby.
J