National credit union auto buying provider GrooveCar Inc. haslaunched a mobile website to keep pace with the growth of vehicleshopping via tablets and smartphones.

The Hauppauge, N.Y.-firm said the mobile site provides access toall of the features available on a traditional PC or laptop such asloan application, car buying tips, access to customized creditunion automotive products such as auto insurance, a dealer locatorand more. The mobile access is free to GrooveCar's credit unionpartners, the company said.

The mobile site also enhances the credit union's ability tocapture member interest and information in real time before theyreach the dealership and increases their ability to pre-approve themember financing and close more organic auto loans, said DavidJacobson, founder and CEO of GrooveCar.

“We are seeing that it is not uncommon for today'stechnology-savvy consumer to purchase a car from a different regionof the country,” Jacobson said. “The mobile site allows creditunions to capture loans that in the past would have been lost tobanks and captive lenders.”

According to GrooveCar, industry statistics show that automotive shopping via tablet and smartphone usage has climbed40% on a year-over-year basis. Jacobson said this furthersolidified the decision to boost the GrooveCar's Credit Union AutoBuying System to invest in developing the enhanced site.

The $4.8 billion Teachers Federal Credit Union in Farmingville, N.Y., has signedon to GrooveCar's mobile site.

“(It) adds value in more than just progressive technology; itsimultaneously enhances and eases our members' car purchaseexperience while keeping us connected to and an integral part ofthe purchase process,” said Lynne Viccaro O'Leary, vice presidentof marketing at Teachers FCU.