First Automotive Vendor to Connect to Leading Search Marketing Platform from Yahoo! SEATTLE, W A — The Cobalt Group, Inc., the leading provider of marketing services to the automotive industry and a certified Yahoo! Ambassador, today announced that it is fully operable with Yahoo’s new search marketing system, codenamed “Panama.”  A key advantage of the new system includes greater local targeting options, which should enhance advertising effectiveness for Cobalt’s PowerSearch Complete customers. “Cobalt has achieved another important milestone in our partnership,” said Steven Chuck, director, business development & advertiser sales, Yahoo! Search Marketing. “Through their focus and efforts in this area, Cobalt is emerging as a leading Internet search marketing provider in the automotive industry.  Their connection to our new search marketing system should bring even greater value to their clients and dealership customers.” Cobalt offers automotive dealerships and OEMs PowerSearch Complete, an integrated paid and organic Internet search advertising service that helps dealers achieve greater presence on leading Internet search engines and drive more quality traffic to dealer websites. “Internet search marketing is one of the most important ways our customers can connect with in-market vehicle buyers,” said John Holt, CEO of The Cobalt Group.  “It’s also dynamic and fast-moving.  Connecting with Yahoo’s Panama platform delivers yet another significant enhancement to our customers’ online advertising programs.  Our close relationship with Yahoo! helped us achieve this rapidly, and we thank them for their ongoing support of Cobalt and our automotive customers.” A turn-key service, Cobalt’s PowerSearch Complete integrates organic search optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM) and continual website tuning and strategic counsel from personal Account Advocates.  PowerSearch Complete Account Advocates work closely with Cobalt’s dealership customers to develop and deliver tailored Internet search advertising programs that:

• Synchronize with dealership TV, radio and print advertising

• Leverage and complement OEM advertising, and

• Integrate with website content and design, to optimize traffic-to-lead conversion.

Launched in early 2006, PowerSearch Complete is already established as a leading Internet search advertising service for the automotive industry.

About The Cobalt Group
The Cobalt Group is North America's leading provider of automotive marketing services. For more than a decade, Cobalt's exclusive mission has been to help automobile dealers and manufacturers increase their retailing effectiveness and profits. Cobalt provides marketing services to more than half the automotive dealerships in the United States, Canada and Mexico and is endorsed by more than two-thirds of the world's major automotive manufacturers. Cobalt is endorsed by the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA).