carsales, Australia’s #1 for cars, has continued to step up and provide both its customers and dealers with support amidst the uncertain market conditions brought about by COVID-19.
Dealers surveyed by carsales raised consumer sentiment as one of their key concerns. But a consumer survey conducted by carsales concurrently last week indicates 46.8% of consumers are looking to buy a car within the next month with 16.8% ready to buy right now¹.
As Australians are adapting to working at home, consumer concerns around car buying include transparent COVID hygiene policies, face-to-face contact and logistics of taking a test drive and actually buying a car.
With more channels of customer communication, the availability of video to demonstrate vehicles, safe and convenient home test drive arrangements, over-the-phone deposits, e-contracts and more, dealers are rapidly addressing these concerns and embracing new ways to stay connected with customers and sell cars via their ‘virtual showrooms’.
To assist in this evolution, carsales dealer ‘badges’ have been introduced to highlight improved consumer offerings including a suite of ‘virtual showroom’ services, extended business hours and sanitisation.
‘Badges’ give dealers, who are going the extra mile to provide key ‘virtual showroom’ consumer tools, the ability to champion these and highlight the services on carsales.
“carsales ‘badges’ provide consumers with the confidence that new and used car dealers are still open for business and that they are embracing new ways to service car buyers in these challenging times,” carsales Australia Managing Director, Ajay Bhatia explained.
“Australian car shoppers are still keen to buy – and our latest research cements that. But in extraordinary times, consumers expect an even better buying experience. We think this innovation can help dealers deliver that.
“We are always looking at new ways to provide further opportunities for our dealers and customers and will continue to do so over the coming weeks and months,” continued Bhatia.
The dealer badges initiative is another of the fast-to-market innovations carsales has rolled out to help the auto industry during the national COVID-19 response and follows a recent announcement around carsales dealer assistance package that included a zero-fee period for April and extended payment terms.
Source: carsales.com.au, onsite survey, 1-2 April 2020, i=1655
