Jumpstart Automotive Group Adds PluginCars.com to Its Growing List of Publisher Partners

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – August 11, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Jumpstart Automotive Group, a leading automotive marketing organization, today announced the addition of PluginCars.com to its portfolio of automotive website publishers. PluginCars.com becomes the 13th exclusive publisher in a group that currently consists of Vehix.com, Consumer Guide Automotive, JD Power Autos, Shopping.com Autos, Car and Driver, Road & Track, Cycle World, CarSoup.com, U.S.News Autos, HybridCars, CarGurus and TrueCar.Developed by the web company behind HybridCars.com, PluginCars.com is the first website dedicated to providing consumer information about cars that run on electricity instead of petroleum. As the premier online forum for shoppers, drivers, car manufacturers, municipalities and energy companies, PluginCars.com offers online community tools focused on plug-in cars arriving later this year — the Chevy Volt and Nissan LEAF — as well as 20 other upcoming electric-drive models, including the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Ford Focus Electric, Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Coda Sedan and Fisker Karma.

“Jumpstart’s publisher group consists of the broadest, most diverse audience of in-market car shoppers and influencers,” said Choon Choi, Vice President of Audience Development at Jumpstart. “It’s a win for our advertising partners that we have expanded our audience to include the first website of its kind dedicated to electric vehicles.”

In addition to community tools focused on individual electric vehicles, PluginCars.com will feature an online user guide to provide trustworthy, easy-to-understand information about how to charge a car, as well as typical driving range, plug-in car economics, and environmental benefits.

Links between HybridCars.com and PluginCars.com provide help to the nearly two million current hybrid owners as they consider migrating to electric cars, since the first adopters of plug-in vehicles are most likely current owners of gas-electric hybrid vehicles.

“With the rise in interest in alternative energy vehicles, PluginCars.com is the ideal information hub for the rapidly expanding list of electric cars and plug-in hybrids entering the market,” said Bradley Berman, CEO of PluginCars.com and HybridCars.com. “We are confident in Jumpstart’s ability to apply their autos experience to maximize the engagement of the automotive marketing community with this exciting new audience.”

About Jumpstart Automotive Group
Jumpstart Automotive Group, part of Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., is an expert automotive marketing company. It represents the broadest and most diverse audience of in-market car shoppers and influencers across 13 automotive websites that include Vehix, Consumer Guide Automotive, JD Power Autos, Shopping.com Autos, Car and Driver, Road & Track, Cycle World, CarSoup.com, U.S.News.com, HybridCars, CarGurus, TrueCar, and PlugInCars. Fueled by a passion for performance, Jumpstart Automotive Group is committed to the development of quality content and services for consumers and to maximizing publisher revenue and advertiser results through innovative products and services. Additionally, Jumpstart has been on the forefront of behavioral targeting and is now developing leading research and strategic insights products. For more information, visit JumpstartAutomotiveGroup.com.

About PluginCars.com and HybridCars.com
Founded in 2003, HybridCars.com is the Internet’s premier website dedicated to hybrid gas-electric vehicles and the full range of consumer information and tools about cars, energy, and the environment. PluginCars.com was launched as a sister site in May 2010. The mission of both sites is to provide trustworthy, clear information about the next generation of alternative energy vehicles, creating a movement of consumers eager to purchase cars and trucks that use less oil, have a smaller environmental impact and are fun to drive. Content from the websites is syndicated to Yahoo!Autos, Reuters, and numerous newspaper, television and radio station websites.

SOURCE: Jumpstart Automotive Group

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Jumpstart Automotive Group Adds Cycle World to Its Marketing and Publishing Network

Sales and Marketing Responsibilities at Cycle World Shift as Larry Little Steps Down, Andrew Leisner Assumes New VP Role

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – August 6, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Jumpstart Automotive Group, an expert automotive marketing and media network, today announced it has added Cycle World, the nation’s premier resource of motorcycle performance information, to its roster of vehicle shopping and enthusiast brands. Jumpstart’s team of vehicle marketing experts is now responsible for Cycle World’s magazine and digital advertising sales, as well as overall operations for the popular motorcycle brand.

With the addition of Cycle World, Jumpstart now represents 13 well-known media brands that include Vehix, Consumer Guide Automotive, JD Power Autos, Shopping.com Autos, Car and Driver, Road & Track, CarSoup, U.S.News, HybridCars, CarGurus, TrueCar, and PlugInCars.

Additionally, sales and marketing responsibilities at Cycle World have shifted, as Larry Little — the publication’s Chief Brand Officer — steps down and Andrew Leisner, a 30-plus-year motorsports veteran and senior-level marketing executive, takes over as Vice President of Integrated Sales & Marketing. Leisner will report directly to Nick Matarazzo, CEO of Jumpstart Automotive Group.

“Not only is Cycle World the go-to guide for anything pertaining to the motorcycle industry, it’s also a longstanding brand within the HFM U.S. family,” said Matarazzo. ”It makes perfect sense that Cycle World’s robust motorcycle information and services be added to Jumpstart’s broad and diverse network of vehicle shopping and enthusiast properties. We’re excited about this latest addition and we look forward to broadening the Cycle World brand and establishing new partnerships under Andrew Leisner’s leadership.”

Leisner has spent his entire career in motorcycling, and has worked in publishing, advertising, sponsorship sales and implementation, high level contract negotiation, media property management and sales, licensing, new-media marketing, event operations, racing PR and promotions, merchandising, competition-rule making and ticketing.

In his new role at Cycle World, Leisner will oversee all sales and revenue strategies across the brand’s print and digital media platforms. Corey Eastman, Cycle World’s Vice-president of Brand Development, retains his role. Libby Hartung has been promoted to Western Sales Director and Dennis Scully has been promoted to Eastern Sales Director. Katie Kovaleff assumes responsibility for the aftermarket category. Mark Hoyer, Vice President of Brand Content and Editor-in-Chief, continues leading the rapid evolution of Cycle World’s content strategy, and will now report to Jumpstart’s COO, Grant Whitmore.

“Jumpstart Automotive Group has been making decisive moves to deliver multi-platform opportunities that tap into the brand essence of the diverse, high-performance media companies that we bring to the table, while also offering the consumer reach, performance and insights like no other competitor,” Matarazzo continued.

About Jumpstart Automotive Group
Jumpstart Automotive Group, part of Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., is an expert automotive marketing company. It represents the broadest and most diverse audience of in-market car shoppers and influencers across 13 automotive websites that include Vehix, Consumer Guide Automotive, JD Power Autos, Shopping.com Autos, Car and Driver, Road & Track, Cycle World, CarSoup, U.S.News, HybridCars, CarGurus, TrueCar, and PlugInCars. Fueled by a passion for performance, the Jumpstart Automotive Group is committed to the development of quality content and services for consumers and to maximizing publisher revenue and advertiser results through innovative products and services. Additionally, Jumpstart has been on the forefront of behavioral targeting and is now developing leading research and strategic insights products. For more information, visit JumpstartAutomotiveGroup.com.

About Cycle World
Cycle World is the premier source of motorcycle performance information for the ultimate motorcycle hobbyist. With editorial content covering everything from technical reviews to professional profiles and competition coverage, each issue of this monthly publication serves to inform and inspire. Whether you’re a sport tourist or a skilled sport rider, Cycle World is your go-to guide for anything pertaining to the motorcycle industry, including information about the latest gadgets, detailed model reviews and performance tests, product comparisons, expert opinion and more. Cycle World encourages you to make an informed buying decision by providing you with information to help you get the best products at the best prices.

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