Shift Magazine - September 2021 - 11

Stellantis' E-Shop brand
sites include the option to
reserve vehicles.
current EVs, the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV,
are on hold because of a sweeping safety
recall related to potential battery fires.
Mike Bowsher, chairman of the
Chevrolet dealer council and owner of Carl
Black Automotive Group in Kennesaw,
Ga., said the Tekion tool is " more intuitive
than the best third parties on the market. "
- Hannah Lutz
Honda: Shop Simple (Honda brand)
Precision Purchase by Acura (Acura)
The Shop Simple buying tool takes prospective
buyers from Honda's national
website to local dealer inventory. On
the websites of participating retailers,
shoppers can get vehicle pricing, value
a trade-in, apply for financing, customize
finance and insurance products and
arrange delivery. Honda certifies e-commerce
platform providers to ensure a full
online buying experience for customers
who want that. Honda has one authorized
provider and is certifying five others. It
said most dealers participate in the Shop
Simple program and most Acura dealers
participate in a similar online experience
called Precision Purchase by Acura.
- Laurence Iliff
Hyundai: Click to Buy
(Hyundai brand)
Hyundai says the Click to Buy program
allows a shopper to research the vehicle
they are interested in, choose a dealer
and search inventory, estimate different
payment options, apply for credit, schedule
a test drive (whether at the store or
remotely), do all the paperwork online
and have the vehicle delivered at home.
Dealers who participate in the program
allow the process to be saved along the
way. But the ability to complete the entire
step-by-step process online varies from
dealer to dealer. Hyundai says that is
based on state regulations as well as the
dealer's participation level.
- Laurence Iliff
Mini: Mini Anywhere
The digital end-to-end shopping tool
allows a customer to personalize a payment
plan, get trade-in offers, go through a credit
approval process and digitally sign a contract.
- Urvaksh Karkaria
Nissan: Nissan@Home (Nissan brand)
Infiniti Now (Infiniti)
Nissan@Home allows consumers to shop
for a vehicle, schedule test drives, complete
the paperwork for a purchase - including
credit approval and F&I options - and take
delivery without having to step inside a dealership.
After delivery, customers will be able
to schedule service appointments digitally.
Infiniti Now allows customers to browse
inventory, schedule a test drive, arrange
financing, purchase the vehicle and schedule
home delivery.
- Urvaksh Karkaria
Porsche: Porsche Finder
The online service covers all aspects
of buying, financing or leasing a vehicle,
including payment and trade-in calculators,
credit approval and F&I options
through Porsche Financial Services.
- Urvaksh Karkaria
Stellantis: E-Shop (Chrysler, Dodge,
Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Alfa Romeo)
E-Shop enables consumers to begin the
trade-in process, apply for credit, receive
price and payment estimates, and review
service protection plan options before
having a vehicle delivered to them. Other
features include online chats and the ability
to make test-drive appointments and
vehicle reservations.
The reservations option is integrated
with PayPal, so users can put down
refundable deposits on their desired vehicles.
The system debuted in spring 2020
under a different name but was rebranded
as E-Shop last fall. The coronavirus outbreak
forced the automaker to pull up the
release date by several months.
- Vince Bond Jr.
Toyota: SmartPath (Toyota brand)
Monogram (Lexus)
Toyota Motor North America launched
its path to digital retailing in 2019 with the
rollout of SmartPath for its Toyota dealers
and Monogram for its Lexus dealers.
The two systems, developed in-house by
Toyota, allow dealers real-time inventory
management and marketing tools while
enabling customers to choose a vehicle,
apply for financing and close a deal online,
or to stop short of those steps and complete
their purchase at the dealership anywhere
along the way.
Toyota Motor North America has been
speeding rollout across its retail network,
but the system remains voluntary for
dealers.
- Larry P. Vellequette
september 2021 * shift 11
Shift Magazine - September 2021

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