Still offline
The rise of the EV is partly accompanied by the emergence of a new sales model. Instead of the traditional dealer, the internet plays a major role in this, but according to a new survey, almost three quarters of buyers are not interested in this at all.
According to the research by analyst EVForward, 74 percent of car buyers also prefer to buy an electric car from a traditional dealer. In a showroom, in other words, and in conversation with a real salesperson. That may seem logical, but with a brand like Tesla, sales are exclusively online. Showrooms are there, but only serve to get a first impression of the car. You can also test drive here, but whoever wants to order will really have to go online. The ‘Stores’ are owned by the brand itself and not by a separate dealer group. Online sales therefore not only have consequences for the sales process, but also for which party ultimately sells the car. We are increasingly seeing similar models at other brands. This does not only concern newcomers, but also the more traditional brands.
Automotive News notes that although people who already own an EV and younger buyers are more positive about online sales, they still have a preference for the traditional dealer.
A few years ago, online sales still seemed like the dream of the future, whether or not in combination with a handful of ‘stores’ for viewings and test drives. However, the transition is not going as quickly as might be hoped, with some brands even actively disapproving of this concept. The Chinese BYD is the most notable of these. The Chinese are new and only sell EVs, yet they deliberately stick to sales through a traditional intermediary. According to the brand, this offers major advantages for customers, such as more direct contact with a local ‘shop’ that knows its immediate environment through and through.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl