MSN Carview, Microsoft's motoring website, has announced global expansion plans.

The site, which launched in the UK in April, launches in Germany this week, to coincide with the Frankfurt International Motor Show. Subsequently new sites will be launched in Italy, France and Spain this year. Within 6 months, it is planned to have MSN Carview sites on the MSN portals of 12 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Managing director of MSN Carview, John Brewer said: "MSN Carview has proven in the UK that it can maximise the effectiveness of internet promotion for leading automotive brands, playing a valuable role in their overall media plan. Our sister sites in the US and Canada are also market leaders in this area.

“MSN is now in a position to offer local, pan-European or global online solutions to the motor industry. Only MSN Carview can work alongside the automotive sector to maximise the effectiveness of their international online communication, delivering a consistent brand experience, utilising Microsoft technology.

MSN Carview has also revealed the creation of a global online event, based around coverage of the Frankfurt International Motor Show. From next week, an estimated 60 million people, across five continents, will see coverage of the show on MSN - one of the largest ever online audiences for a car show. MSN Carview is creating a series of special, one-off web sites for Frankfurt. These will be produced in English, French, German and Italian language versions with supplementary coverage in Dutch. The sites will link from MSN Carview sites and MSN portals.

MG Rover and Royal Dutch/Shell have signed up with MSN Carview to be lead sponsors of their Frankfurt coverage.

Commenting on the announcements, John Brewer said: "We want MSN Carview to become the standard reference point for both the motor industry and consumers, for buying, owning and advertising cars in Europe, the Middle East and Africa."