5:33 pm, January 19, 2017
PEUGEOT has launched a new way for customers to buys cars online.
The system – christened ‘Order Online by Peugeot’ – offers a good degree of flexibility, putting the consumer firmly in the driving seat during the purchase process.
Customers can build a car that meets their specific requirements, secure a guaranteed part-exchange valuation for their existing car, and fund the vehicle according to their individual budget criteria, using a range of finance package deals.
The system was launched quietly last week, and, within 12 hours, the first order had been placed with others following quickly. The range of cars ordered spans the Peugeot range, from the 108 to the all-new 3008 SUV, and the profile of customers is equally wide.
Customers can browse Peugeot’s model range, then save details in their own, password-protected account, which means they can think about their purchase before ‘clicking to buy’ or they can start the configuration process again to compare packages and cars.
With a completely new web interface, built in-house by the Peugeot team, it is entirely feasible for a customer to go through the whole process from end-to-end, and order a car in less than 30 minutes.
Peugeot UK managing director David Peel said: ‘The launch of our e-commerce system represents a huge step-change for the UK automotive industry. The retail landscape in general has changed immeasurably over the last few years and we are not only proud to be the first car manufacturer to offer customers a truly end-to-end experience, but also honoured to be the first of Peugeot’s markets to unveil the system.
‘Traditionally, car buyers can find visiting a dealership daunting. With e-commerce by Peugeot, that pressure to make a decision is removed; the customer is in full control and can deliberate all they want over spec and finance decisions, change their minds and retrace their steps as many times as they wish.
‘If, having browsed the model range, selected their car and found a finance package that works for them, customers want a test drive, they can still arrange this before committing to a purchase.’
The Peugeot system automatically filters the best available options for the user, based on the criteria they set. The system even makes taking delivery of a new car convenient, allowing customers the option of either picking it up from their local Peugeot dealership or having it delivered to their door.
Finance deals are also available immediately online through e-commerce, meaning that customers can make informed decisions without having to wait and search separately. The part-exchange element of the system is underwritten by Manheim.
The news follows announcements from Smart and Hyundai, which both launched websites where customers could buy, part-exchange and organise delivery of their new cars online, earlier this month.
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