Prompted by a surge in smartphone usage, auto buying service CUSO Autoland Inc. said it has launched a mobile website to meet the research and shopping needs of car buyers.

The Chatsworth, Calif.-based CUSO said it has seen a 67% jump in mobile traffic to its website in the last year.

Autoland President Jeffry Martin said unlike a mobile application that requires users to download software to their mobile device, the CUSO's website is automatically presented through the phone's Web browser.

(At left, the build-your-car screen.)

The site was designed to deliver a pleasing user experience with key features online shoppers are looking for such as a streamlined mobile interface and full chat capability with Autoland representatives, according to the CUSO.

With nearly four out of five new vehicle buyers conducting online research during the shopping process and 23% of those shoppers using a smart phone to access this information, implementing a mobile strategy has been a priority this year, Martin said.

“We know that mobile shoppers have specific service expectations and our optimized site makes it easy for them to research new vehicles, search pre-owned cars, calculate monthly payments and get credit union financing information,” he noted.

Autoland serves more than 200 credit unions nationwide, representing more than eight million credit union members. The CUSO said it has delivered more than $1.8 billion in direct auto loans to credit union partners over the past 10 years.