The auto e-commerce has been growing globally at a staggering rate as per a recent Carmudi survey, and as many as 80 per cent of new car customers begin their car shopping experience online.
Within the Middle East specifically, 62 per cent of car buyers reported using the internet to search for information on cars before they made a purchase.
To keep the whole experience online, Dubai-based online retail platform Souq.com has announced that it will now retail Chevrolet cars in association with Al Ghandi Auto Group.
The retailer said it will offer Corvette, Camaro and Impala models at exclusive prices, “with potential savings up to Dh43,000 per car.”
According to Ronaldo Mouchawar, Souq.com CEO & Co-Founder, “Internet today plays a significant role in influencing potential car buyers before purchasing a car in the Middle East. The year-on-year cars online search growth in the region is astonishing, with the UAE leading at 24 per cent, followed by Saudi Arabia at 20 per cent. So, the next natural step is to allow our consumers purchasing journey to continue online.”
“The internet has changed the car-buying game completely. A global study released by Accenture last year concluded that 75 per cent of drivers polled would consider working through the entire car-buying process online,” said Kyle Gilliam, Sales Director, Al Ghandi Auto.
“In the past, buying a new car was all about making a great impression in the showroom. Today, the journey starts well before that and much of it happens online and on mobile. The old mantra of bringing customers to showroom is now changing to bringing your showroom online for the customers,” he added.
Middle East has the highest internet and mobile penetration rates in the world and therefore the increasing rate of moving the car shopping experience online is beginning to mirror that of Western Markets.
Users need to pay a booking amount of Dh1,999 online at Souq.com to avail the “exclusive car price deals”. Additionally, Chevrolet will offering further cash vouchers (worth Dh3,670) for all customers buying cars via Souq during Ramadan.