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Car e-tailer Autobytel UK has linked up with the Automobile

Association (AA) on its web site's new car-buying section.

Motorists using the All About Cars section of www.theaa.com will be

buying their new cars through Autobytel, while finance, insurance and

breakdown cover will be provided by the AA.

Under the deal, there will be no revenue split for sale of vehicles or

sale of the related packages.

The agreement marks the onset of a strategy by the car e-tailer, which

launched in April 1999, of striking affinity and affiliate-based

deals.

"This is the sort of deal we plan to introduce throughout the year,"

said Kevin Turnbull, chairman of Autobytel UK.

Turnbull said the business won over AA bosses who were looking for a

partner to launch a car-buying section on the AA site. He added the

co-branded section was created by an in-house team at Autobytel UK.

The chairman predicted the range of cars on sale through the section

would reflect the AA's membership.

"The AA has segmented its database into user groups. We will be looking

to target those user groups on the section with specific offerings."

Lin McCarthy, head of marketing at Centrica, the AA's parent company,

said: "It was felt that we should work with a partner which specialises

in selling cars online."