Okay. Popping bags full of coins into a vending machine is stretching credibility to bursting point but, as Auto Trader has discovered, following extensive market research, contactless purchasing might be feasible in certain areas. The company’s first ‘vending machine’, a glass box containing a Renault Zoe EV, located at Spitalfields Market, in the centre of London, provides a publicity generating ‘machine’ of considerable merit. The choice of a Zoe is related to the increased interest in EVs.
Having established a pre-haggled price, means that it can be purchased on the spot. The study of 2,000 Brits revealed that 92% admitted to being bad at haggling, when it comes to buying a new car, while 79% think our European counterparts are far better at bartering. In fact, haggling on prices (41%) topped buyers’ lists of anxieties about buying a new car, along with hidden costs (39%), worrying about making the wrong decision (28%) and having to wait a long time to receive a car after committing to it (25%).
The bespoke contactless vending machine installed in London, allows purchases of up to £21,000. A team of six engineers spent three months designing and building the contactless car dispenser; a custom-made point-of-sale system and key release function, alongside an integrated payment and door release mechanism. The Zoe (owned by Lookers Group) comes with a price of £16,000 (RRP: £22,470) that was agreed with the dealer, meaning that the consumer has no worries about trying to get the best price themselves.
The popularity of the Zoe is reflected in ever-increasing concerns around the environment. Three-quarters of Brits (74%) would consider driving an electric car today, with nearly 4 in 5 Brits (78%) now admitting to being concerned about their carbon footprints, when it comes to buying a new car. A whopping 85% of respondents also declared that the stigma around buying and owning an electric car has now gone, with over half of them (54%) admitting they would buy an electric car next time around. Additionally, when it comes to pollution and emissions in London, no less than 77% of them believe only electric and hybrid cars should be used in London.
There is no avoiding the fact that buying a brand-new car is an exciting experience, yet it can be tarnished by anxiety around haggling and knowing whether, or not, you are obtaining the best rates. Showcasing a real-life version on what can be found on the Auto Trader website, brand new cars at transparent pre-haggled prices, is a genuine masterstroke. The key difference is that this Renault Zoe can be purchased at the touch of a card, testing London car buyers’ appetites for EVs, as well as showing a more instantly accessible purchasing future.
