Launch of New Service

Pendragon PLC 8 May 2000 Launch of tins.co.uk Pendragon plc, the UK's largest car dealership group today announces that it has launched a new on-line car retail site under the brand www.tins.co.uk. The website is the first in the UK to offer buyers a full part exchange service when buying a new or used car. As over three-quarters of all retail car purchases in the UK are made with a part exchange of a used car, Pendragon believes that tins.co.uk will offer buyers a unique and unrivalled service to car buyers on the internet. tins.co.uk has the widest choice of new and used cars available on the internet in this country. There are around 40 different new car brands and over 4000 new car models on the site, more than double that available on any other on-line car retailing website in the UK. The website also offers around 5000 used cars for sale from stocks held within the existing Pendragon dealership network of over 200 sites nationwide. Buyers can receive valuations on part exchanges, arrange attractive finance and insurance packages from accredited finance houses, and arrange for vehicle collection and delivery. Unlike other on-line car retailers, tins.co.uk will not charge a 'finders fee' for providing a quote for the car that the customer wants to order. tins.co.uk will create 150 jobs at Pendragon's national customer support centre at Loxley House in Nottinghamshire. The website has been in development for over a year and is now fully integrated with Pendragon's existing dealer management systems and the IT systems of major insurance and finance companies. The company also plans to operate a number of 'cybercafe-style' locations for customers who want to browse at a tins terminal. Drinks and light refreshments will be available and customers can talk through their purchase requirements, finance package and insurance options with a qualified tins executive. The first of these locations is opening in Mansell Street in the City of London in June where the Group currently has a dealership. Trevor Finn, Chief Executive of Pendragon, commented: 'tins.co.uk is a real business, offering cars today not promises of cars tomorrow. Unlike highly publicised third party offers, customers can receive their new or used car within a matter of days, and can feel reassured that they are dealing with car experts within the UK's largest car dealership group. 'The unique range and depth of our new and used stock combined with the ability to part exchange makes tins.co.uk a compelling destination site for the UK car buyer.' Notes to editors: Currently, over $800 million is spent buying cars over the internet in the US, representing around 15% of total cars sold in America annually. 43% of the UK population will have access to the internet in 2000 and internet usage is growing at around 30% every six months. In the first six months of 1999, 7.2 million people accessed the internet. The proportion of British motorists buying cars on-line is forecast to reach 15% by 2003, according to Sunday Times, 30 January 2000 Enquiries: Trevor Finn, Chief Executive Pendragon 01623 725000 Rupert Younger Finsbury 020 7251 3801 Charlotte Festing
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