BMW i vehicles, the i3 and the i8, will go on sale starting 2013 – in the meantime, the German automaker is looking for new ways to sell the cars. In an interview with Car Dealer, Tim Abbott, Managing Director of BMW U.K., said the company is considering using the internet and having a mobile sales force to address customer needs such as delivering cars to their driveways.
“I can see us having a mobile sales force for the i brand,” Abbott said. “We’d utilise the internet more too. That could even stretch to selling cars online, with the back up of our existing dealers, of course. eBay manages it, so why can’t manufacturers sell cars online too?”
Abbott also said that the company is considering using a flexible leasing plan for customer that would allow them to swap out their short-range electric car for a gasoline-powered car for long drives.—Paul Duchene
