With much of the American population on lockdown or practicing social distancing, auto companies and the dealerships that represent them must think outside the box to survive. General Motors is highlighting Shop Click Drive, its previously little-known online sales program, to offer customers an alternative to brick-and-mortar stores.
Shop Click Drive isn’t new—General Motors launched it in 2013—but its target audience is changing dramatically during the coronavirus pandemic. Seven years ago, the automaker explained that it expected customers “put off by the dealership experience” (mostly millennials) to be its top customers; They are drivers who hate haggling, who don’t like pressure, and who want to buy a car like buying a video game on Amazon. Fast forward to 2020 and it has become a way for drivers of all ages to purchase a vehicle while remaining mostly socially distanced.
The online buying process is as easy as General Motors can make it. After entering their city, state, or zip code, customers need to set a distance limit and select the brand they’re interested in. Shop Click Drive features only the latest model vehicles made by Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac; don’t expect to find an older Pontiac or Hummer.
The interface then displays participating dealerships in the selected region with new and used cars in their online inventory. Buyers select a vehicle, estimate trade-in value if applicable, apply for credit and finalize the deal. They still have to visit the dealership to sign the final paperwork and pick up the car. Digital Trends has reached out to General Motors to ask if shipping is available, and we’ll update this story if we learn more.
Tesla sells a large percentage of its cars online, but General Motors and most of its rivals still rely heavily on brick-and-mortar stores. Stay-at-home orders and lockdowns will force shoppers to rethink their shopping habits, just as the cancellation of the 2020 Geneva Motor Show forced automakers to rethink how they present new models, and it is reasonable to assume that the popularity of online car shopping, especially if it is based on an app, will grow in the coming months.
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Source: newstars.edu.vn