The UK has seen the largest progress in manufacturers providing end-to-end new automotive gross sales in contrast with seven different main worldwide markets, based on new evaluation by BearingPoint.

Whereas the BearingPoint New Automobile On-line Gross sales 2023 examine discovered that Tesla stays the worldwide chief, opponents are gaining floor.

In Germany, France and the UK it’s the native manufacturers which have closed the hole. The UK alone noticed a 40% uplift within the variety of manufacturers providing direct on-line gross sales in contrast with the identical level final yr.

Mercedes-Benz and BMW in Germany, Citroën and Renault in France and Land Rover within the UK (behind Polestar) have all improved considerably in comparison with 2022. 

Nonetheless, their on-line shops are seeing increased scores of their respecitive dwelling markets, implying manufacturers are focusing their funding at dwelling first.

BearingPoint stated Polestar continues to be the largest challenger globally to Tesla in providing a “seamless on-line buyer journey”.

Each manufacturers observe the identical enterprise mannequin utilizing showrooms as buyer expertise centres and promoting autos direct to prospects with out dealerships concerned (though the Volvo seller community carries out servicing work for Polestar).

BearingPoint expects to see manufacturers proceed to problem the highest two, with many transitioning to company gross sales fashions and persevering with to put money into the net journey.

According to BearingPoint’s 2022 examine, there was a continued improve within the variety of OEMs permitting prospects to finish the gross sales course of on-line, now 70% of all assessed manufacturers.

In comparison with the 2021 examine it is a 110% improve in manufacturers providing an internet buyer journey, demonstrating the progress OEMs are making with e-commerce and their on-line buyer expertise.

UK sees largest enchancment, however China leads

Though the UK has proven the largest enchancment over the previous yr, China nonetheless leads within the whole variety of manufacturers providing an end-to-end on-line buyer journey.

On this yr’s examine, BearingPoint differentiated between cell and gross sales by way of the web site – cell being an space of energy for Chinese language manufacturers, with many permitting prospects to finish their car buy by means of WeChat or Alipay.

The UK, Germany, and France cleared the path for on-line shops in Europe, with the UK now drawing stage with Germany in the marketplace’s common on-line retailer maturity.

The US market nonetheless trails most European markets in each the variety of seamless on-line shops and the typical maturity rating.

In every market over 60% of the assessed OEMs relocated touchpoints within the journey to cell apps for a greater buy expertise, whereas additionally making a channel for potential after-sales revenues.

A number of manufacturers are leveraging know-how additional to create revolutionary digital experiences, resembling using digital actuality automotive configurators.

This was recognized as whitespace within the 2022 examine and OEMs like Dacia and Porsche, that provide this feature to prospects, are standing out from the competitors.

Jonny Stephens, senior supervisor from BearingPoint concluded: “Whereas the trade grapples with the company gross sales mannequin debate, it’s clear that almost all of OEMs are persevering with to put money into their on-line D2C expertise.

“The UK specifically noticed a 40% uplift in manufacturers providing a seamless on-line buy journey, complementing the rising pattern of buyer’s willingness to buy on-line.

“We additionally see the main manufacturers constructing the longer term by positioning new subscription possession fashions upfront within the on-line journey and introducing maturing tech like XR configurators to carry the product expertise to life digitally.”