Porsche is Testing Online Car Sales in the U.S.
With more and more customers expressing dissatisfaction with the traditional car dealership model, some automakers are exploring new ways to sell and lease vehicles to them.
Tesla is the most notable, of course. Volvo’s Polestar will be another. And now Porsche is launching a joint pilot project with 25 participating dealers across the U.S. allowing people to shop online and speed up the process of acquiring a Porsche.
This can be done via a desktop computer or mobile device and every new or pre-owned vehicle in stock is accessible. The service covers all aspects of buying or leasing a selected vehicle, including payment and trade-in calculators, credit approval as well as and financing and insurance options.
Customers can upload photos of their personal documents for ID verification and car pictures for trade-in valuation. Once the information is completed and an online order is submitted, the dealer can prepare the necessary paperwork for signing when customers arrive for their one and only visit.
“Porsche is always looking for new ways to meet customer expectations,” said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, Inc. “For our dealerships, who are at the core of our strategic initiatives, we think this blend of digital and physical interaction with customers will only strengthen their business.”
A wider national rollout is possible depending on the results of the pilot, Porsche says. Canada could follow suit later.
Another novel way to get access to the company’s desirable sports cars and SUVs is through the newly launched Porsche Passport subscription service, which is available in three U.S. cities (Las Vegas, Phoenix and San Diego) but also in Toronto. Monthly payments include vehicle registration, insurance, maintenance, a concierge service and the ability to switch models at any time.