Tesla introduces “Remote Test Drives” that could kill the car salesman
Who Needs a Car Salesman? Tesla launches “Remote Test Drives,” which allow customers to try out its electric vehicles without setting foot in a showroom
- Perth, Scotland, gets Tesla’s first Remote Test Drive location in the UK
- It allows potential customers to browse and drive one of the expensive EVs without having a Tesla salesman around
If you want to test drive a new Tesla, you don’t even have to enter one of his showrooms.
That’s because the US brand is trying to tap into new customers with the launch of its “Remote Test Drives,” which allow drivers to get behind the wheel without having to shake hands with a car salesman.
The program is being rolled out across Europe and the first site to test it in the UK is in Perth, Scotland.
Customers can unlock the car they want to test with their phone, make a half-hour video call to discuss the vehicle’s features, and then take the expensive electric vehicle (EV) on a 30-minute unaccompanied ride.
This is Tesla’s first UK Remote Test Drive location in Perth, Scotland. Not only is there no showroom, there are also no salespeople – instead, customers get a tour of the car on their cell phone and then take the car out unaccompanied
After customers unlock a Model S or Model Y using their phone, they can test drive a Tesla on their own for 30 minutes before deciding whether to place an order
Tesla says it’s already “applying 21st-century thinking to buying and owning cars,” but now wants to extend that to pre-sales as well.
It says it can leverage the “connected nature” of its cars to offer potential buyers an independent experience in a remote location.
Customers need to arrange their remote test drive online, complete the ‘paperwork’ in advance by email and then travel to the Perthshire site, which is a petrol station and EV charging station, with shops and a restaurant rolled into one.
Test drives are possible daily between 10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Upon arrival, Tesla will remotely unlock one of the Model 3 and Model Y cars stored at the site.
Customers must arrange their remote test drive online and complete the ‘paperwork’ in advance by email before visiting the Taste Perthshire location
Could this mean the end of car dealerships and showrooms? The new mindset is part of Tesla’s philosophy of virtual buying and owning
“When you arrive at the location for your appointment, stand next to your selected vehicle and notify your Tesla Advisor by calling the number provided in advance,” the company says.
“You will be able to verify your identity through the vehicle cameras and unlock the car.
“A local Tesla advisor will be in touch to guide you through the new driving process and offer you a virtual consultation before you drive. This includes ride controls, product features and purchasing options.’
Once this is complete, customers will be given 30 minutes of driving time without a Tesla advisor present.
After returning from the test track, the drivers park the car in the assigned parking space, connect it to the charging station and confirm with the advisor that the appointment is over.
The Perth location is the second location across Europe, with Örebro in Sweden getting the first Remote Test Drive location.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/electriccars/article-11890779/Tesla-launches-Remote-Test-Drives-kill-car-salesman.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 Tesla introduces “Remote Test Drives” that could kill the car salesman