AR is driving change in car showrooms

AR is dr ving change

in car showrooms

The global pandemic put a halt to buying new cars. Consumer shopping habits have changed. The rising cost of living has reduced car sales. Car dealerships are addressing this transformation by adding innovation to their showrooms. Augmented Reality (AR) blends the virtual and physical, creating an environment that benefits the customer and company alike.

Educating customers

Car dealerships are looking to gain a competitive edge over their competitors with AR. Evidence shows that 84%(1) of potential buyers research cars on their mobile phones. Indeed, our smartphones rarely leave our hands, making them an ideal tool for car showrooms.

Toyota has created the Toyota AR MY app allowing customers to look inside the C-HR model, adding hotspots to tap on and get more information. This creates an interactive experience for buyers without neglecting the education that customers seek.

AR apps like this, or the ones launched by Hyundai, Jaguar and BMW, allow customers to make informed decisions before committing to a purchase.

Improving experiences

AR offers buyers the chance to personalise cars on the spot – swapping colours, wheels and other elements on a model in a showroom. This improves the overall customer experience in-store while echoing the online space, where most consumers start their buying journey.

Car dealerships understand the importance of creating a more human-centric approach to their products. AR visualisation is the ‘try before you buy’ for the digital age, elevating customer experiences.

Increasing sales

In urban areas and main shopping districts, space is limited. This makes it challenging for car dealerships to show off their cars in all their glory. That’s where AR comes in.

Audi understood the need to bring car showrooms to the people – launching its Audi City! Applying interactivity and AR, Audi City optimised minimal spaces. It became the first digital, portable automobile showroom.

Since opening, Audi City London drove a 70% increase in sales and 90% of its customers were new to the Audi brand.

Car showrooms are undergoing a digital transformation, catering to the predominantly online customer base. AR bridges the gap between the online and offline, driving positive customer experiences, reducing costs in large store rentals and increasing sales. AR brings the practicality but most importantly, the joy of choosing a car!