A company called Tekion will provide GM dealers with a new EV-focused dealer management software that will make it easier to purchase a Chevy, Cadillac, Buick or GMC brand electric vehicle.
The new Tekion software can process a large portion of a vehicle transaction online, making it simple for customers to search for and buy an EV from GM. The platform operates similar to GM’s existing Shop. Click. Drive. program, which allows users to search for certain GM vehicles at dealerships near them and complete a portion of the transaction over the internet. Steve Hill, vice president of Chevrolet, told Automotive News that the Tekion software is like Shop. Click. Drive. “on steroids,” and will be a “complete game-changer,” for the automaker as it looks to pull out an early lead in the EV sales race.
Chevrolet dealers will be the first to receive the Tekion software, as GM is planning to launch the platform in conjunction with the arrival of the 2022 Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV. Cadillac and GMC dealers will also gain access to the technology once the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq begin arriving at showrooms in the near future. AN says the Tekion platform will be used only for EVs, with Shop. Click. Drive. remaining the go-to online sales platform for GM’s various internal combustion engine product offerings.
GM hopes the intuitiveness of the Tekion platform will help drive more interest in its EV offerings whilst also addressing a common complaint consumers have with the car-buying process: efficiency.
“A lot of the feedback that we get from customers [is] it just takes too long to buy a car. And this really helps shorten that time frame,” Hill told AN.
GM was actually an early investor in Tekion, which is now valued at over $1 billion. Other backers of the company include the personal venture capital firms of Renault-Nissan and BMW, as well as several dealership groups.
The 2022 Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV will arrive at GM dealers this summer.
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Comments
Won’t change the way I purchase vehicles, nor will it convince me to pay 3X as much for an EV, but this will be a great tool for GM’s new “conquest buyers.” Those traditionally Honda, Toyota and now Tesla buyers who don’t mind the EV price and limitations and hate dealerships. Me, I prefers the better prices and am used to driving a hard bargain.
More power to you. For me personally, I hate the hassle, the bluster, the bluffing, the sleazy salesmen, and the long waits as you try to politely nod your head as they say something blatantly false to your face. The only thing I hope can be saved is the test drive. I think that is still an integral part of the driving experience.
Propaganda is the selling tool. Climate change is hoax.