Rather than going to a dealership and trying to learn about a vehicle under the pressure of a salesperson who is just trying to make a commission, many consumers are looking elsewhere for more comfortable car shopping experiences.
Away from conventional dealerships, consumers are tapping into virtual reality showrooms, simulators and online matchmaking tools to inform potential purchasing decisions. Even if a consumer is not actively shopping for a new car, brands like MINI offer on-demand test drives, which are experiences that will stick in their minds of shoppers the next time they are in the market for a new vehicle.
In response to these changes, dealerships of today are being transformed with interactive touchscreens, text messaging services, virtual reality stations and beacons, so that consumers can use technology as their guide and browse models at their leisure.
14 Dynamic Car Shopping Experiences
14
Vehicle Vending Machines
The Carvana Dealership Gamifies Car Pick-Ups with a Car Vending Machine
13
Immersive Test Drive Experiences
Ford Gives Fans an Interactive Adventure in San Francisco
12
In-Mall Car Showrooms
Pennsylvania's Cherry Hill Mall is a New Place to Test Drive a Car
11
Automotive Sales Beacons
Ford is Revving Up Its Retail Sales Technology with Beacons
10
Live Vehicle Builders
ZeroLight's Car Configurator Revolutionizes the Auto Purchasing Process
9
Car Shopping Quizzes
TMatch Narrows Down Choices When Purchasing a Vehicle
8
Auto Showroom Lounges
Club Aston in Los Angeles Serves Up Martinis to Customers
7
Friendly Test Drive Campaigns
Toyota's 'Try My Hybrid' Put Fans at the Wheel of This Campaign
6
Online Car Dealerships
This UK Startup Wants to Revolutionize the Used Car Market
5
24-Hour Test Drives
Buick's '24 Hours of Happiness' Test Drive Encourages Wellness on the Road
4
Car-Educating Beacon Technology
The Inner Geek Beacon App Delivers Information About Vehicles
3
Dealership Messaging Services
Go Auto Uses Text Messaging to Make Interactions Stress-Free
2
Driver-Rescuing Campaigns
MINI Turns Getting a Flat Tire on the Road into a Marketing Opportunity
1
On-Demand Test Drives
Peugeot's New Car Test Drive Lets Twitter Users Try Out a Car Immediately
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Limited Edition Luxury Cars
The New Aston Martin Super Saloon Will Only be Sold in the Middle East
Inexpensive 3D-Printed Cars
Sanya Sihai's Printed Car Exemplifies Affordable Transportation
The Reinvention Project
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson's Trucks Revealed (SPONSORED)
Severed Limb Stunts
A Model of a Severed Leg is the Star of This Mini Cooper Advertising Stunt
Insta-Wreckage Auto Ads
Toyota's 'Don't Shoot and Drive' Instagram Ad Puts Filters on Wrecks
Automatic Bartenders
The Foxtender is an Alcohol Vending Machine with a Compatible Payment App
Self-Pumping Bicycles
The Inflator Bicycle Makes It So You'll Never Have a Flat Tire Again
Smartwatch Payment Systems
A New Payment Method is Being Developed Using Smartwatch Technology
Limited Edition Trucks
Ford's Shelby Baja 700 is a Fast Ride for Its Impressive Size
Autonomous Dinosaur Toys
WowWee's Robot Dinosaur Takes Cues from Beacon Technology
Umbrella-Lending Vending Machines
These Japanese Beverage Dispensers Offer Free Umbrella Rentals
Beacon-Powered Retail Platforms
Swirl's Mobile Marketing Platform Engages Consumers on a New Level
Adrenaline-Spiked Trucks
The Ford Vaughn Gittin Jr. Can Be Used For Drifting and Jumping
Car Customization Sites
Ferrari's Site Lets You Build a Customized Sports Car California T Model
Test Drive Prank Ads
Watch What Happens When Jeff Gordon Pulls Stunts in this Pepsi Commercial
Stormtrooper Car Services
Uber is Unleashing a Fleet of Stormtrooper Cars for Force Friday
Revolutionary British Supercars
The Aston Martin Vulcan Embraces A Fresh Design Language
Short Story Vending Machines
This Machine Opts for Dispensing Literature Rather than Junk Food
Energetic Airport Makeovers
London's Luton Airport Recently Received a Pastel-Hued Rebrand
Exercise-Dependendant Water Machines
This Machine Requires Users to Run for Clean Drinking Water
Ultra-Exclusive Bottle Coolers
This Aston Martin One-77 Bottle Cooler is Rarer Than the Car
Impressively Augmented Coupes
The 2015 Hennessey HPE700 Supercharged Ford Mustang is a Powerhouse
Miniature Off-Road Autos
The MINI Paceman Adventure is a Tiny but Powerful Pickup Truck Concept
Pint-Sized Luxury Cars
The Lexus LF-SA Sports Aggressive Style and Sophistication
Happiness-Inspired Concept Cars
The Toyota FT-HT Yuejia Has Six Individual Seats and Suicide Doors
Mobile-Recognition Retail
LXR & Co.'s Innovation Store Uses the Thirdshelf App to Track Customers
Speedy Supercharged Sports Cars
The 2017 Porsche 960 Displays at the Detroit Auto Show 2014
Smartphone-Controlled Cars
The Remote Control Range Rover Sport is Made for James Bond
Opulent British Coupes
The Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 is Fast, Furious and Luxurious
Couture Car Interiors
Maserati and Zegna Collaborated to Create Stylish Car Seats
Pop-Up Seaside Dealerships
Tesla's Temporary Car Store Travels to Luxurious Summer Resorts
Thunderous Luxury Cars
The Aston Martin Thunderbolt Blends Luxury and Performance
Test-Driving Clothing Promos
GU Customers Are Trying on Clothes Outside Stores Without Purchase
Futuristic Postal Offices
Canada Post's New Postal Office Has a Self-Serving Shipping Kiosk
Movement-Steered Automobiles
The Toyota FV2 Incorporates a Kinesthetic Method of Operation
Illuminated Retail Apps
Philips Introduces New Connected Retail Lighting System
Luxe Spy-Worthy Vehicles
The Aston Martin DB10 is Built for Bond, James Bond
Toy Car Rental Agencies
Hot Wheels' Rental Car Agency Helps Determine the Hottest Models
Video Game Replica Cars
The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo is a Real Version of a Virtual Race Car
Stylish Auto-Branded Pop-Ups
MINI Lifestyle Store Showcases Fashion & Accessory Products
Data-Transmitting Mannequin Apps
VMBeacon Allows Users to Find More Information About Products
Sci-Fi Spoof Car Ads (UPDATE)
The 2014 Kia Super Bowl Commercial Revisits the Matrix
Ridesharing Test Drives
Volkswagen's Vehicle Test Drive Can Be Ordered Through Uber
Miniature Spy Car Auctions
This Miniature Aston Martin DB5 Q Branch is Being Auctioned For Charity
Automotive Sales Beacons
Ford is Revving Up Its Retail Sales Technology with Beacons
Twitter-Powered Shopping Cranes
The Topshop Playland Pop-Up Lets Visitors Pay with a Tweet
Sleek Turbo Sportscars
The Porsche 911 Offers a Speedy Flat Six Engine and Smooth Design
Connected E-Bikes
Ford's MoDe:Pro Connects Riders to Cars
Commemorative British Supercars
This Line of Special Edition Aston Martins Includes Six Models
Car-Feedback Smartphone Apps
Automatic App Uses iBeacon Technology to Make Driving More Convenient
Car Dealership Spas
The Mercedes-Benz Burlington Location Boasts a Spa and Cafe
Gamified Test Drives
Volkswagen's Fun Test Drive Challenges People in a City-Wide Game
Virtual Reality Car Dealerships
The Audi VR Experience Serves as a Mobile Car Dealership
Starry Simulation Drives
Mitsubishi's Virtual Experience Takes Drivers to the Stars
Aluminum-Bodied Trucks
The Ford F-150 Pick-Up Replaces Steel Parts For More a Fuel-Efficient Ride
Illuminating Bike Pumps
The Protector Portable Inflator Provides Assistance with a Flat
On-Demand Car Wash Apps
This App Brings Custom Car Wash Services to Users' Homes
Endearing Car Q&A Campaigns
Mini Cooper is Letting Fans to Ask the New Mini Space Questions
Aggressive Road Racers
The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 is Aerodynamic and Stylish
Versatile Backcountry Phones
The Delorme Inreach Explorer Offers Communication & Navigation Tools
Unlocking Auto Mobility
Mark Fields' Auto Keynote Speech Discusses a Flexible Driving Experience
Youthful Luxury Convertibles
The Rolls Royce 'Dawn' is Designed for Young, Affluent Consumers
Turbocharged Muscle Cars
The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Offers Great Fuel Economy
Exclamatory Hazard Signals
The LED Lights Barrier Prevents Collisions Against Breakdowns
Car Shopping Quizzes
TMatch Narrows Down Choices When Purchasing a Vehicle
Spy-Themed Luxury Cars
Aston Martin's 'Limited DB9 GT Bond Edition' Pays Tribute to 007
Extreme Bejeweled SUVs
The $1.5 Million Swarovski Kuga Takes Luxury Options to the Next Level
Luxury Golden Vehicles
The Bentley Bentayga is Rumored to Be the Most Opulent SUV Made
Auto Showroom Lounges
Club Aston in Los Angeles Serves Up Martinis to Customers
Virtual Reality Test Drives
South African Audiences Take Virtual Hyundai i30 Test Drive
Friendly Test Drive Campaigns
Toyota's 'Try My Hybrid' Put Fans at the Wheel of This Campaign
Virtual Driving Apps
Volvo's Car Test Drive Game Takes You Inside a Virtual Vehicle
Business Location Service Apps
The Apple iBeacon Service Lets Businesses Send Targeted Promotions
Interactive Candy Kiosks
BMC's 'Media Kiosk' Collects Data, Mobile Payments and More
Winter Rescue Apps
This App Lets Volunteer Audi Drivers Help Others Stuck in the Snow
Subtely Upgraded Autos
The Smart ForTwo Car Receives Slight Adjustments
Bespoke Classic Cars
The Updated Jaguar Mark 2 Brings a Classic Car Into the 21st Century
Intentionally Broken Billboards
Volkswagen's Broken Billboard Design Shows the Need for Real Parts
Vending Machine Halloween Pranks
This 'Candy Kittens' Vending Machine Dispensed Tricks, Not Treats
Hybrid Skateboard Segways
IO Hawk Makes the Convenience of Powered Boarding Accessible to Many
Luxury Auto-Inspired Bicycles
The Alfra Romeo 4C IFD Bicyle is the Epitome of Luxury
Pet Adoption Beacon Ads
The Adoption Campaign Uses Location-Based Tech to Increase Awareness
Rainbow Floors
Street Artist Hot Tea Transforms the Roosevelt Island Pool into a Colorful Canvas
Experiential Car Shares
Ford's Car-Sharing Program Introduces the Benefits of Resource Splitting
Women-Oriented Car Showrooms
James Frizelle's Pop-Up Showroom Entices Women Into Buying Cars
Connected Transport Buses
The Smart Public Transport Buses Use iBeacon Technology
Automotive Pizza Payments
Pizza Hut May Soon Let Customers Pay for a Pizza Through Their Cars
Car Servicing Restaurants
The Kent & Co Wine Bar Doubles as an Auto Repair Shop
Iconic Building Block Cars
The LEGO Mini Cooper is a Cute Replica of the Classic Car
Auto Buyer E-Commerce
Autohome is China's Leading Car Consumer Website
Foolhardy Car-Claiming Stunts
BMW's April Fool's Day Special Provides a Treat Instead of a Trick
Amphibious SUV World Crossings
The Amphibear is Set to Travel 37,000 Miles in Nine Months
Third Party Onsite Inspections
WeGoLook Ensures Online Listings are Verified for Sound Purchases
Tablet-Controlled Test Drives
Audi Built a Miniture Race Track to Promote the New Audi Quattro
Auto-Infused Gaming Spoofs
Nintendo's Mario Takes the Mercedes-Benz GLA for a Test Drive
Crowdsourced Transportation Networks
Skedaddle Simplifies the Process of Chartering a Bus
Immersive Virtual Reality Cars
Ford's Immersive Vehicle Environment Generates a 3D Car
Touch-Friendly Crossover Concepts
The Lexus Lf-NX Features a Tactile Console and Hybrid Engine
Dealership Messaging Services
Go Auto Uses Text Messaging to Make Interactions Stress-Free
Glasses-Finding Apps
Tzukuri Eyewear Help Tracks Your Lost Eyeglasses
Fantasy-Granting Auto Ads
This Toyota Super Bowl Commercial Features a Wish-Granting Genie
Speedy Commuter Car Redesigns
The Yaris GRMN Turbo Puts a Sporty Spin on the Tame Economy Car
Noise-Rewarding Vending Machines
This Pepsi Vending Machine Gave Out Free Drinks to the Best Fans
Fashion Ad Spoofs
This Ad for Mercedes-Benz Berlin Fashion Week Features Comical Twists
Phone-Charging Car Ads
VW's Mobile Car Ad Cleverly Promotes the Electric e-Golf with an App
Garage Opener Apps
This Garage Door Opener App is Controlled Securely by Beacon Technology
Foam-Bodied Beach Cruisers
The Toyota Me.We is a Lightweight EV with a Foam Body and Bamboo Floors
On-Demand Test Drives
Peugeot's New Car Test Drive Lets Twitter Users Try Out a Car Immediately
Cartoonish SUV Creations
The Toyota Highlander SpongeBob is Inspired by All Things Under the Sea
Musical Test Drives
The Musical City by Toyota is a Choose-Your-Own Playlist Adventure
Automotive Web Shops
Rockar Hyundai Makes Buying a Car as Easy as Online Shopping
Villainous Driving Schools
Jaguar's Villain Academy Teaches How to Drive Like a Villain
Micro-Sized Theater Ads
This Smart Car Ad Shows How Easy the Car Fits into Any Parking Space
Amusing Auto Safety Campaigns
Instabomb by C4 Lounge Shows How to Avoid the Unexpected
Laser-Drenched Racetracks
The Castrol 'Titanium Trials' Challenge Drivers to Race Against Lights
Rehabilitative Finance Partnerships
Barclays Bank, DEC and UNICEF Team Up to Help Former Addicts
Corner-Capturing Car Cameras
Ford's Split View Camera System Helps Drivers See Around Corners
Car-Concealing Cameras
Land Rover's Cameras Turn Trailers Into Transparent Cars