General Motors has gone straight from bankruptcy protection to eBay. The company announced that roughly 90 percent of its non-luxury new car brands sold in California will be available for purchase from the online site.
In all, there will be 225 dealerships participating in a test that will run until Sept. 8. According to an Automotive News report, it is likely that dealerships in other states will come onboard the eBay program at that time.
General Motors began its eBay test in large part because it has underperformed in the state. While the company's share of auto sales is about 19 percent nationally, it is only 13 to 13.5 percent in California.
"Together with eBay Motors, GM and our dealers are reinventing the car-buying experience for our California customers," said Mark LaNeve, GM vice president of U.S. sales, in a press release. "As the dealer showroom expands from the parking lot to the laptop, this makes it easier for a customer to browse available new-car inventory, make an offer, buy it now, or send a message asking for more information from a dealer - all at the customer's convenience."
Consumers will be able to browse hundreds of online showrooms with thousands of new vehicles from California dealerships. They will be able to ask questions, negotiate prices, and work out financing with dealerships. Consumers will also have the option of using eBay Motor's "Buy It Now" function where they make a purchase based on an advertised price or go the "Best Offer" route where they make an offer and haggle with a dealer online.
"In the not too distant past, a customer had to work too hard to find a vehicle and what might be the best offer to be found. Now, with the custom-built GM/eBay microsite, customers can get all the information they need about available inventory, compare features and price ... and make a decision to buy a vehicle now or make an offer." said Ted Nicholas, president and CEO of Three Way Chevrolet in Bakersfield, CA.
Mr. LaNeve told Automotive News that the company will be visiting dealerships in other states to keep them apprised of the progress made in California. "We would roll it out upon dealer request, but we're not going to put it in any market where the dealers are uncomfortable or don't feel that they're ready for it," he said.
Discussion Questions: What do you think of General Motors taking its sales online with eBay? What do you see as the most positive aspects of this deal? Where do you see potential pitfalls?