LISLE, Ill. -

Sonic Automotive revealed Wednesday it has tapped a new firm to serve as its app development team. The auto group partnered with Lextech Global Services in a deal that makes the mobile application strategy and development firm Sonic’s mobile business unit.

Basically, this partnership with Lextech offers Sonic the necessary expertise to build and roll out mobile apps in a more efficient manner.

“Our expertise is in selling and servicing vehicles, not developing mobile applications,” explained Heath Byrd, Sonic’s vice president and chief information officer.

“Partnering with Lextech gives us access to mobile strategy expertise that we did not want to build internally,” Byrd continued. “We believe this partnership will result in significant innovations that will greatly enhance productivity and improve the car buying experience at our dealerships."

Explaining more about what a mobile business unit entails, officials noted that it is a long-term partnership for Lextech “to design a program in which mobile supports the business’ strategic goals, model the resulting program’s projected return, implement the program and then measure its success.”

Lextech chief executive officer Alex Bratton noted: “This isn’t just about mobile apps or even cars. It’s about working together closely to define and achieve strategic goals. Our MBU team set the bar high on these apps and we expect to turn some heads.”