Digital Air Strike Acquires Online Vehicle Marketplace
The acquisition marks the sixth M&A transaction for the company and the first consumer-facing asset owned by Digital Air Strike as it continues to expand its online car-buying experience.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Digital Air Strike, a consumer engagement technology company, has acquired BestRide.com, an innovative automotive marketplace that allows consumers to search for millions of new and used cars online from car dealers across the United States. BestRide.com was acquired from Gannett Co., Inc., the digitally focused media company with unmatched reach at the national and local level. BestRide.com and Digital Air Strike’s technology will be integrated to give automotive retailers a better way to showcase their inventory, market dealers that offer at-home test drives/purchasing/delivery, while providing enhanced online shopping options to combat online-only pre-owned vehicle retailers like Vroom and Carvana.
The combination of Digital Air Strike’s industry-leading intelligent lead response and consumer engagement A.I. technology, along with BestRide.com’s massive online inventory of both pre-owned and new vehicles from trusted, local dealers, creates the ideal consumer auto-buying experience.
The acquisition of a consumer-facing website is an exciting expansion opportunity for Digital Air Strike as the company has continued to grow its consumer engagement and digital retailing technology platform, primarily designed for the automotive and adjacent transportation industries. The acquisition also supports the company’s strategy of using technology to create a better experience for consumers and retailers alike, giving consumers more information on the retailers that offer “shop at home” services to educate consumers on the fact that most dealers now offer the ability to buy and service vehicles without ever going to their physical dealership. COVID-19 accelerated digital sales and discovery as 92% of auto purchasers now begin their research online, according to Google, and consumers are demanding more of the buying process be contactless and virtual.
“Our technology allows dealers and consumers to communicate, engage, and transact virtually, and the acquisition of BestRide.com only furthers that objective,” said Alexi Venneri, co-founder and CEO, Digital Air Strike. “The combination of Digital Air Strike’s industry-leading intelligent lead response and consumer engagement A.I. technology, along with BestRide.com’s massive online inventory of both pre-owned and new vehicles from trusted, local dealers, creates the ideal consumer auto-buying experience. This further supports our strategy to drive value for dealers and consumers throughout the car-buying journey.”
BestRide.com is connected to the auto classified sections of over 200 media platforms in the U.S., including The Boston Globe, Detroit Free Press, The Arizona Republic, and The Austin American-Statesman.
“BestRide.com will continue to be a great resource for our millions of readers looking to purchase a vehicle,” said Jeff Urgo, vice president, Local IQ Automotive, a division of Gannett Co., Inc. “Digital Air Strike has been a valuable partner whose work with the automotive industry will only enhance the consumer and dealership experience on BestRide.com.”
BestRide.com generates high-quality leads for automotive dealers through its proprietary tech platform. Consumers can search for their ideal vehicle by body style, make or model, along with connecting to local car dealers, researching engine trouble codes, and finding used car values through Kelley Blue Book, all while storing their favorites in their own virtual “garage.” Digital Air Strike will continue to enhance the site’s capabilities through its own technology solutions and will be unique in showcasing “buy at home” options that dealerships offer, for not only pre-owned vehicles but also for new vehicles – something that online-only retailers such as Carvana and Vroom simply can’t match as they do not offer new vehicle inventory.
With the Bestride.com acquisition, Digital Air Strike has now completed six mergers and acquisitions since the company was founded in 2010. Digital Air Strike merged with ResponseLogix Inc., to obtain patented lead response technology, acquired the assets of the ad tech company Target Media Partners Interactive, acquired the leasing and finance software assets of Libra Systems, acquired the privately held AI chat technology business of Eldercare Technology, and most recently acquired the assets of leading inventory marketing SaaS company LotVantage.
The acquisition is being announced to coincide with the National Automobile Dealers Association’s 2021 virtual conference where Digital Air Strike is exhibiting. Registered attendees and media can find more information by clicking on the All-Exhibitors link in the online NADA Show event.
Originally posted on F&I and Showroom