TOMS RIVER, N.J. -

Dealerships that are part of the AutoShopper.com network will have use of new custom websites by the end of June, as part of the company’s enhancement of its AutoPilot product.

“Many car dealerships are looking to increase online presence and attract new customers, especially since auto shopping is such a competitive marketplace,” said Dani Lunsford, national marketing executive for Autoshopper.com. “A website is a key extension for many dealerships, and it is especially critical to the success of online shopping.”

The design team at Showcase Publications is creating the websites for all current AutoShopper.com dealerships that, once launched, will become their online showroom, providing potential new customers with looks at the dealerships’ inventory.

Each website will include a control panel that allows users to update text, hours of operation and contact information, company officials said. The websites will also offer car shoppers featuring such as printer-friendly vehicle pages, multiple photos for each vehicle, a payment calculator and secure credit application page.

A social media package, offered with the website launch, will allow dealers to connect with buyers and potentially increase sales by using integrated social networking features such as Facebook, Twitter and “email a friend,” the company said.

Customer leads will be sent to dealers in real time via email and text messages, and will be stored within the website’s control panel for future reference. Also, available inventory data feeds will provide unlimited inventory information to more than 50 classified websites.

AutoShopper.com noted that all of the new website packages include toll-free technical support. The system will also register and maintain domain name for interested dealerships, and existing domains can be transferred to Showcase Publications.

The launch of the custom websites is expected by the end of June, for AutoShopper.com’s more than 9,000 dealers nationwide.