TIANJIN CITY, CHINA--(MARKET WIRE)--Dec 18, 2008 -- Fresh Ideas Media, Inc. (OTC BB:FIDM.OB - News), which will soon be renamed China Auto Logistics Inc. (the "Company"), announced today the launch of its www.1365car.com website -- aimed at buyers and dealers of domestically produced autos in China -- in the cities of Dalian and Shenyang. This brings the number of cities in China in which the site has been launched over the past several months to six.
Mr. Tong Shiping, CEO and President of the Company, stated, "I'm extremely pleased to report that with the successful launch of www.1365car.com in these two new cities, in addition to the four we previously have announced (Tianjin, Beijing, Xi'an and Jinan), we have fulfilled our key operational objective for 2008. We are moving ahead with plans to add another six cities in 2009, which will be a preface to our planned launch of an integrated national domestic auto website, which we believe will be the first of its kind in China and a key underpinning of our continued growth."
Shenyang Launch
The Company noted that Shenyang is the capital city of the Liaoning province, and with a population of about 8 million, is the largest city in China's northeast provinces and a major industrial base. Reflecting the growth it has seen in domestic auto purchases, the city now has 91 4S shops (auto dealers), 85 of which the Company is visiting once a week with a goal of attaining a paid subscriber base of about 40% over the next several months.
According to the Company, all of the dealers being visited are supplying the site with pricing as well as "ready-to-pick cars" information. As an incentive to potential customers, the Company also is working with domestic manufacturers to be able to offer on-line discounts. It also has lined up a variety of promotional events including two group purchase on-line promotions in December (with four other websites) for two popular, domestically manufactured autos. The Company added that the www.1365car.com site in Shenyang is already tallying more than 8000 hits a day.
10,000 Hits Per Day in Dalian
The Company described Dalian as China's most sophisticated city in the northeast, and the base in China for more than 30 of the world's 500 biggest companies and numerous others. With a population second only to Shenyang in the Liaoning province, it is also China's largest oil port, a large shipbuilding center, a well established international high tech center and a major tourist attraction. In the latter regard, one of its major exhibitions each year is its International Auto Exhibit in August.
The Company reported that 100 of the city's 102 4S auto dealers have become website members, and more than 80% are providing frequent price quotation and promotional information. The Company is planning several on-line promotional events to increase consumer participation and to generate revenue, and says that, at present, its website is generating more than 10,000 individual hits per day.
"With our primary 2008 goal of establishing our site in six key cities accomplished," stated Mr. Shiping, "we are confident of continuing success in 2009, which will entail building the revenues from these sites from increased subscriptions as well as new on-line services and vehicle sales, while continuing to progress toward the launch of our national website."
Company Description
Founded in 1995, with profitable sales in 2007 of approximately $152 million, the Company has grown to become one of the top importers and sellers of luxury vehicles in China. Imported luxury autos, accounting for more than 10% of all Chinese auto sales revenues, are the fastest growing segment of the still young Chinese auto industry, now the second largest in the world. The Company has grown sales and profits by becoming one of China's top logistical servicing and financing companies for auto importers. Additionally, it is a leader in providing accurate pricing and other auto-related information with its two web portals, www.at188.com, aimed at the import market, and www.1365car.tj.cn, which it is expanding throughout China to reach the much larger market of domestically manufactured auto purchasers and dealers. Following completion of a successful reverse merger on November 10, 2008, the Company is trading as a fully reporting company in the U.S. as Fresh Ideas Media, Inc. with the stock symbol FIDM.OB. It shortly expects to officially change its name to China Auto Logistics Inc. For additional information, please visit www.chinaautologisticsinc.com.
Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, product demand, market competition, and risks inherent in our operations. These and other risks are described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
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