Isn’t this just a big piece missing from the picture? My last car was a model 3 that I bought in 20 minutes, while my current Ioniq 5 took two months to get.
Yes, they probably are aware. From a business viewpoint, it’s a huge risk for a car maker to cut ties with their dealer network.
I think traditional manufacturers might follow VW’s lead with Scout. They should build a new brand and sell directly. VW is under a lot of pressure about this choice, but I hope they stick to it.
It’s a love-hate relationship. Sure, you can buy a Tesla quickly, but you’re paying MSRP and don’t have many choices. Yet, I can go to a dealer and find last year’s model at a big discount with plenty of options.
But I really dislike salespeople.
They don’t seem to care. Because of laws in many states, you have to go through a dealership.
They also realize that if EVs catch on, many dealership jobs will disappear due to lower service needs. So, they make it tough to skip this change. It was the same story when people wanted to buy cars online—they fought against that and tried to force customers to call or visit.
@Kumi
They still behave that way.
@Kumi
They do care, but with the state laws you mentioned, they’re very limited in what they can actually do.
Counting my test drive, it took me about 30-40 minutes to buy my car at the dealer too. Not all dealers are bad, and not all car makers can do direct sales well. The issue isn’t with the sales model, it’s with the people in charge.
@Tatum
That’s surprising. I had a trade-in price agreed upon, locked in a price from the manufacturer, bought a warranty, and I was still at the Hyundai dealership for over four hours.
That’s why I’m either keeping this car until it dies or hoping to find a Rivian in my price range.
@Tatum
True, but the inconsistency in service is harmful to the brand and quite different from any other shopping experience. When you visit places like Target or McDonald’s, you expect a similar level of service. You shouldn’t have to gamble on whether your local dealer is a good one, which forces you to drive elsewhere for a better experience. The dealership system in the US is flawed, and it’s denial to say otherwise.
@Tatum
I test drove Teslas just by walking in and asking for it.
@Tatum
“The test drive of the exact car I bought is impossible with Tesla.”
I’ve actually test-driven two of their cars. Just reach out to your local showroom and set one up.
Yes.
Ford Introduced A Digital Sales Platform Quietly And No One Seems To Care
https://jalopnik.com/ford-quietly-introduced-a-digital-sales-platform-and-no-1851231452
NADA and state dealer groups challenge Scout Motors’ direct sales plan
https://www.cbtnews.com/nada-and-state-dealer-associations-set-to-challenge-scout-motors-direct-sales-strategy/
My last car was a model 3 and I bought it in 20 minutes,
That would be against the law in some states.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_US_dealership_disputes
Other countries don’t have such laws protecting dealerships.
@Orion
The end of the Ford digital sales article shows that it’s all a performance. The dealer is still in control: “Ford makes no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, currency, or completeness of the site’s operation, information, materials, content, or products.”
Sorry, that’s too broad. My Porsche and Ford dealers have been excellent over several cars and service.
These were all gas vehicles. Sometimes dealers act as a buffer between consumers and manufacturers. You can’t ignore the frustration you see on Tesla and Rivian forums.
I feel lucky that the car my wife and I wanted was sold by the least pushy dealership we visited.
It’s clear to both consumers and manufacturers. At least in the US, car dealers have a strong lobby and lots of money. They’ve also created many laws to keep their position.
Yes, they don’t care.
After waiting 8 months for my Mach E in 2022 (not the dealer’s fault), it took my wife and me about 8 hours at the dealership to pick up our car when it arrived. Such a long time. We could have had all the paperwork ready in those 8 months.
I think manufacturers with existing dealers will eventually find a balance like this:
- Dealers get an exclusive window of 6-12 months for new models.
- Dealers keep inventory they set prices for, but must have online buying options.
- Consumers can order directly from the manufacturer at MSRP through the dealer of their choice, but with a minimum delivery wait of about 90 days that doesn’t apply to inventory vehicles.
My VW dealer has improved a lot. The buying process was tough, but I complained, and they apologized. Now the service center at the same dealer is really nice. I look forward to my annual check-ups there.