And it’s the country where digital solutions were already very much part of everyday life, even before the crisis. Even when it comes to buying a car. “Chinese customers always have their smartphone at the ready. That’s why online consultation was already well established and accepted before Covid-19,” says Mayer. When people didn’t go out the door in February, the trend accelerated. 550 Volkswagen models were sold in March in a completely digital process.
This is made possible, for example, by virtual showrooms that car buyers can visit from home without the risk of infection. In the digital showrooms, they can see the vehicles and inquire in real-time about prices and equipment. The number of visitors is high – the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture showroom on the Autohome platform alone has more than 2.5 million customer views. “We are also currently observing a growing interest in car ownership, because many people no longer want to be dependent on public transport,” says Mayer.