Volvo and Amazon team up for on-demand test drives for Prime users.
Technology is transforming modern life in an incalculable number of ways at a seemingly unprecedented rate, and cars have been one of the most affected areas.
However, this time, tech is shifting its focus from reimagining the cars themselves and is instead shaking up how we take them for a test drive. That’s because Volvo has joined forces with Amazon to offer test drives of the V40 to Amazon’s Prime customers.
So, how does it work?
Well, Prime customers visit this site, select a date and time when they want the test drive and a V40 hatchback simply shows up on their doorstep. At this point, they’ll have up to 45 minutes to take the car for a spin, accompanied by a specialist.
The idea has been introduced in an effort to fit test drives around people’s busy schedules, but it’s yet another example of how technology is disrupting the status quo. Currently, the concept is just being trialled in certain major UK cities during weekends throughout June. But should it prove worthwhile, you can count on Volvo making it a permanent feature.
The pilot scheme will be available in London on June 9-10th, before working its way up the UK, stopping at Birmingham on June 16-17th, Manchester on June 23-24th and Edinburgh on June 30th and July 1st. Don’t expect a V90 or XC60 to show up at your house though; the offer is limited to just the V40 for now to assess interest.
Does this mean the death of the car showroom?
Possibly. With car sales slowly but surely shifting online, this development could be another nail in the coffin of bricks-and-mortar car showrooms. Consequently, there could be a time in the not-too-distant future where a dreary weekend afternoon visiting car forecourts just isn’t a thing anymore.
That said, while Amazon and other online shopping outlets have undoubtedly affected the high street, physical stores are still very much in demand so it seems implausible that car showrooms will vanish any time soon.
Visit https://www.amazon.co.uk/adlp/volvo to find out more about the scheme and book a test drive.
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