Thursday, August 18, 2005

Proxicom Announces launch of new VW.com

Text from Proxicom.
Volkswagen of America and Proxicom Announce the launch of the new VW.com; Volkswagen Teams with Proxicom to Improve the Online Experience for U.S. Automotive Consumers and Car Enthusiasts

RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 16, 2005--Proxicom, Inc., a leading Internet consulting firm and Volkswagen of America, Inc. are proud to announce the redesign of VW.com, Volkswagen's premier online property for U.S. automotive consumers.


The newly launched site, www.vw.com, delivers an improved customer experience through a fast and easy to use interface, integrated with new online shopping tools including an enhanced "Build and Price" car configurator. The configurator now allows consumers to save partial configurations as they continue to research desired product features.

Volkswagen had outgrown the architecture of their previous website and was looking forward to a new competitive design. Proxicom helped develop an easily updatable framework, better scalability and enhanced performance while increasing the maintainability of the site. "Proxicom's deep automotive background was leveraged to create a design that directly addresses our business objectives of selling more Volkswagens," said Tesa Aragones, Director of eMarketing for Volkswagen.

Proxicom was the key integrator in the project coordinating with Volkswagen's ad agency and multiple business partners to deliver the new and improved site. The Proxicom development team was charged with defining the business requirements for the site as well as implementing a new creative design and technical architecture to meet those requirements.

"Proxicom's main objective was to assist Volkswagen in creating a website that facilitates getting consumers from the web site to a Volkswagen dealership. We integrated key shopping tools into all aspects of the site, to facilitate users finding the VW of their dreams and then to easily submit a request to a dealership. Volkswagen's brand is all about 'value for time spent' online, and we have created a site that engages consumers with the VW brand while getting them easy access to key transactional tools," said Greg Morrell, Proxicom's Managing Partner, Automotive Practice. Blue Van Dyke, Senior Vice President of Client Services, added "we are automotive specialists, the solutions that we architect and develop for our clients are routinely recognized as industry-leading. We help our clients harness the power of Internet technologies to drive bottom line results in their marketing and sales programs."

Proxicom has also contributed to the design and implementation of Volkswagen's Canadian-specific site, www.vw.ca.

About Volkswagen of America

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen of America and its affiliates employ approximately 3,000 people in the United States and are responsible for the sale and service of Audi, Bentley, and Volkswagen products through retail networks comprising more than 900 independent U.S. dealers.

About Proxicom

Proxicom, Inc., an internationally recognized Internet consulting firm, delivers custom-tailored web applications, industry-specific solutions, and system integration services to Global 1000 organizations. Through the experience and ongoing passion of our talented professionals, Proxicom provides specialized technology development expertise across a number of select industry groups including: Automotive, Healthcare, and Financial Services. Founded in 1991 as a systems integrator, Proxicom, an affiliate of Gores Technology Group, LLC, has developed and built web solutions for such blue-chip companies as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Dupont, Mazda North American Operations, GMAC and Toyota Motor Sales, among many others. Headquartered in Reston, VA, Proxicom also has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Irvine and San Francisco. For more information, visit our website at www.proxicom.com.