Hyundai has announced it is opening a retail centre were customers can browse and buy their new car without having to speak to a sales person. 

The Rockar Hyundai store will be located in Bluewater, one of Europe’s largest retail parks, in Kent. 

“Hyundai Angels” will welcome customers to the store were visitors are free to browse among the showroom cars, before then configuring and choosing their new Hyundai, and getting a finance quotation, online in the store. The only time they need interact with a Hyundai person is when getting a price for their part–exchange, arranging a test drive or collecting their new car.

Hyundai, which developed the new store with Rockar, a car retail specialist, claims it is the first of its type in the world.  It says that 93% of people research their next new car online, and only visit the dealer when they want to purchase. 

The new store aims to replicate the online shopping experience, right down to never having to speak to a salesperson, an encounter that Hyundai, which has 154 conventional dealerships around the UK, says customers can find “intimidating”.

The Hyundai store isn’t the first to be located in a retail centre, however. Last year, Tesla opened its first UK showroom in the Westfield shopping centre in White City, London. Product specialists guide customers around the models on display in what Tesla describes as an “interactive environment”. Test drives from the store are available by appointment.

Meanwhile, Audi opened its first virtual showroom in central London two years ago. Called Audi City, customers can choose and configure a new car, presented in life–size on large screens. Unlike the Rockar Hyundai store, an Audi representative takes the customer through the purchase process.  In its first year, 50,000 people visited the new showroom.

It seems that the future of car buying and contract hire is changing and this virtual buying experience is an evolving trend– Knowledge Rules the Road. Technology is our great passion, knowledge our most valuable asset. We keep a close eye on all the emerging trends that will benefit you.