When it comes to selling cars, it's not just a matter of by-passing the middleman. Vauxhall's chairman, Nick Reilly discounts fears that manufacturers might use technology to bypass their dealers. His company, for instance will sell its cars on the net but deliver them via one of its 500 dealers. Nevertheless, the models sold on the net will be cheaper than the nearest equivalent models in showrooms because of reduced distribution costs and the elimination of sales incentives. This means that traditional dealerships will be forced to differentiate their services if they want to protect their profits.
Many consumers believe that a test drive is a necessity.
The real competition may on the sidelines, in consumer financing. You're only making a couple hundred dollars on a new car. One thing is certain, the auto industry is due for a few bumps as it drives from the information highway to the e-commerce superlot. The free stats provided here are updated every 6 - 8 months. For the most recent stats, analysis and trend data, visit our eStats Report Page.