Porsche Tests Selling Cars Online

Luxury and performance car maker Porsche will begin testing a new program that allows customers to do the majority of their car shopping online, according to a report.

The company announced the news on Monday (Oct. 28).

“Physical and digital retail experiences have to work hand in hand, yet stay typically Porsche. Offering our customers an enhanced digital option for acquiring a Porsche makes this experience even more accessible and more convenient,” said Detlev von Platen, member of the executive board for sales and marketing at Porsche AG.

Most of the more arduous parts about car-buying, including obtaining financing and calculating payments, will be handled online, but customers will still have to come into the dealership for final signatures and to actually take possession of the car.

“Porsche is always looking for new ways to meet customer expectations,” said Klaus Zellmer, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, Inc. “For our dealerships, who are at the core of our strategic initiatives, we think this blend of digital and physical interaction with customers will only strengthen their business.”

Customers can place orders for both new and used vehicles that are in stock.

In Germany, there will be a centralized website at “www.porsche.de,” while in the States the sales will be integrated into existing dealer websites.

The service will “(cover) all aspects of buying, financing or leasing a selected vehicle, including payment and trade-in calculators, credit approval, and financing and insurance options through Porsche Financial Services,” the carmaker said.

Customers will also be able to upload photos of documents to assist with ID verification, and they can also share photos of their current vehicles for trade-in evaluation. Once that is completed, the dealer will prepare everything on-site and wait for the customer to arrive and complete the process.