Web auto sales team promises to leave others standing at the lights

WHAT is claimed to be the world's most advanced internet-basedcar sales operation is being launched today.

The Internet Car Company, (TICC) based in Livingston andsupported by the Royal Bank of Scotland, is audaciously predictingit will be the biggest motor dealer in the country within 18 months.

Stewart Ramsay, the managing director and co-founder of TICC, hasthrown down the gauntlet to his rivals. "Until now, nobody has gotit right when it comes to selling cars over the net.

"We are offering a personal service unlike anything else on themarket, from discussing the model and options required, to preparingand delivering the vehicle as well as handling part-exchange andfinancing options - even for European imports, deposits will beminimal."

TICC, which will create 200 jobs, will open its first site inLondon within 12 weeks, spreading across the country in a "clicksand mortar" expansion.

Peter Wilson, chairman of TICC, said: "I believe that the companyis ideally positioned to demonstrate all that is right about neweconomy companies."

TICC, which is launching with a dozen manufacturers' ranges ontheir site, TICC said it expected to triple this in the comingmonths with more than 2500 models on line.

Jonathan Wilson, technology sector manager at the Royal Bank ofScotland, said: "We have supported TICC since its inception . Wehave worked very closely with the company to provide a range ofservices from traditional banking through to specialist facilitiessuch as asset finance and insurance."

The website has been conceived, designed and built by co-founders Stephen Smith and Peter Burns. Each car on the site hasbeen digitally mastered at TICC's multimedia studios. TICC saidtheir website delivers three-dimensional, interactive multimediapresence previously only available on CD-ROM.

They said that in the on -line showroom customers would be ableto view and rotate the car of their choice, start and rev theengine, close the doors and even sound the horn. An interactive viewinside the car gives potential buyers the chance to see under thebonnet, inside the engine and judge how big the boot is withluggage, golf clubs and a pushchair for reference.

By clicking on the mouse TICC say that viewers will be able tosee the car in the colour of their choice.