Experian and JATO Introduce the First Mexican Vehicles in Operation Database

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Experian Automotive today announced a new Vehicles in Operation (VIO) report that will, for the first time, provide the automotive industry with a clear and timely picture of vehicles currently on the road in Mexico. With the report, aftermarket companies will now have the ability to anticipate the needs of the Mexican market and will benefit from greater market intelligence and insight to grow their business.

The new VIO database, developed in collaboration with JATO Dynamics, Inc., is now available at the national level and is updated twice a year. The VIO figures were developed with input from official sources such as the government (Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography/INEGI), vehicle associations (Mexico's Association of Vehicle Manufacturers/AMIA, Mexico's Association of Automobile Dealers/AMDA and Mexico's Automotive Parts Association/INA), original equipment manufacturers and car importer vehicle information. Future releases will include details and figures at the state and metropolitan levels.

"Aftermarket companies have realized that the Mexican market has great potential, but they haven't had the tools to properly estimate and plan accordingly," said Marty Miller, senior product manager for Experian Automotive. "There were only five primary vehicle brands in Mexico 20 years ago, and certainly a lot has changed since then. The VIO count has grown considerably and now is comprised of 30 makes and more than 250 different models."

"Our VIO gives the aftermarket the understanding and insight they need to be competitive and successful down to their target market/geographic segment," said David Mitchell, President Americas of JATO Dynamics. "This business intelligence will help our clients quickly make profitable strategic planning decisions."

The Mexican VIO data, which is coded to Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association standards, includes more than 20 detailed vehicle attributes for 1995 and newer vehicles, including make, year, model, engine size, fuel type, body style, doors, drive wheels and transmission (type and speeds). VIO counts also are available for 1983 to 1994 vehicles by make, year and model.

"This new business intelligence, in addition to our existing U.S. and Canada VIO, will help our clients make profitable strategic planning decisions quickly for North America," said Scott Waldron, president of Experian Automotive. "Our customers can now identify target market opportunities by product segment and geography while analyzing their performance relative to the competition."

VIO data also is used by aftermarket companies to introduce new products, eliminate obsolete parts in their inventory and reduce inventory costs. The new report also enables companies to make better decisions when it comes to assortment planning, site selection and forecasting, as well as to increase sales and profits.

About JATO Dynamics

JATO was founded in 1984 and provides the world's most timely, accurate and up-to-date information on vehicle specifications and pricing, sales and registrations, news and incentives. The company has representation in over 43 countries, providing unique local market expertise. The JATO client base includes all of the world's volume vehicle manufacturers, giving them the ability to react to short-term market movements, plan for long-term developments and ultimately to meet consumers' needs. JATO's data has also been adapted for consumer use in motoring web portals where customers can see the advantages and disadvantages of a specified model against any other while major leasing companies use JATO data to drive the vehicle quotation process. Visit JATO at www.jato.com.

About Experian Automotive

Experian Automotive, a part of Experian, delivers information services to manufacturers, dealers, finance and insurance companies, and consumers. Experian® helps automotive clients increase customer loyalty, target and win new business, and make better lending and vehicle purchase decisions. Its National Vehicle Database, housing more than 625 million vehicles, along with Experian's credit, consumer and business information assets, meets the industry's growing demand for an integrated information source. Experian's advanced decision support services help clients turn this information into improved business results. Experian technology supports top automotive businesses, including eBay Motors, CarsDirect.com, CarMax and NADAguides.com. For more information on Experian Automotive and its suite of services, visit our Website at http://www.experianautomotive.com.

About Experian

Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 90 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2010, was $3.9 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 40 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; Costa Mesa, California; and São Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

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Marty Miller

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SOURCE Experian Automotive