Cox Auto's DR package Esntial Commerce?

[Greg Spencer]

Cox Automotive has rolled out an online sales package called Esntial Commerce, with the first client being the Penske Automotive Group.

Penske Automotive Group and Cox Automotive Debut Automated Platform for Retailing Used Vehicles

In the news release, Penske Automotive Group and Cox Automotive Debut Automated Platform for Retailing Used Vehicles, issued 22-Jul-2021 by Penske Automotive...

www.prnewswire.com

Does anyone have any insights or first impressions? To me, it sounds a lot like previous DR tools from Cox, specifically Accelerate and Dealer.com's Digital Retail. The announcement says Esntial Commerce is "transformative" and an "industry first", but it's not clear why this is so. I'm wondering what's innovative here and what is just rebranding of an existing product?

 

[Alex Snyder]

I'm wondering what's innovative here and what is just rebranding of an existing product?

Especially after seeing the line in the press release about Cox Automotive owning all the pieces.

 

[mattsmith]

Hi Greg and Alex. Thank you for your questions. What is innovative about the Cox Automotive Esntial Commerce™ solution is that it’s a scalable eCommerce solution, allowing consumers to complete their entire used car buying process 100% online. The solution is not a rebranding of the Cox Automotive existing solutions but does leverage the breadth and depth of our current capabilities to be able to bring this automated solution to market.

Cox Automotive Esntial Commerce™ is transformative because it automates the entire used car transaction. Through the automation, this solution provides many industry firsts for both consumers and retailers. These firsts include financing automation, reliable payments in search, and automated checkout to financing and aftermarket automation, fraud detection, and more.

 

[john.quinn]

Hi Greg and Alex. Thank you for your questions. What is innovative about the Cox Automotive Esntial Commerce™ solution is that it’s a scalable eCommerce solution, allowing consumers to complete their entire used car buying process 100% online. The solution is not a rebranding of the Cox Automotive existing solutions but does leverage the breadth and depth of our current capabilities to be able to bring this automated solution to market.

Cox Automotive Esntial Commerce™ is transformative because it automates the entire used car transaction. Through the automation, this solution provides many industry firsts for both consumers and retailers. These firsts include financing automation, reliable payments in search, and automated checkout to financing and aftermarket automation, fraud detection, and more.

Certainly a verified 3rd-party endorsement right there!! Good to see the marketing team is staying busy.

 

[amhobbs]

Hi Greg and Alex. Thank you for your questions. What is innovative about the Cox Automotive Esntial Commerce™ solution is that it’s a scalable eCommerce solution, allowing consumers to complete their entire used car buying process 100% online. The solution is not a rebranding of the Cox Automotive existing solutions but does leverage the breadth and depth of our current capabilities to be able to bring this automated solution to market.

Cox Automotive Esntial Commerce™ is transformative because it automates the entire used car transaction. Through the automation, this solution provides many industry firsts for both consumers and retailers. These firsts include financing automation, reliable payments in search, and automated checkout to financing and aftermarket automation, fraud detection, and more.

Matt, where can I see this innovative piece of art? I can't find it on Penske's site.

 

[Ryan Everson]

Matt, where can I see this innovative piece of art? I can't find it on Penske's site.

Here's the Penske website:

CarShop | Home

CarShop is the original no-haggle, no-hassle used car superstore. Every CarShop Certified used car comes with a 6 month / 6,000 mile warranty, a Lifetime Engine Guarantee, and has no dings, no dents and no scratches. Find your perfect vehicle with unmatched guarantees today.

www.carshop.com

And once you get to a VDP and click the Buy Online button, it redirects you to this Cox site:

https://online.carshop.com/

 

[Alex Snyder]

Thanks Ryan - this looks more like your everyday dealership website than the next iteration of an online buying device.

 

[Jeff Kershner]

Here's the Penske website:

CarShop | Home

CarShop is the original no-haggle, no-hassle used car superstore. Every CarShop Certified used car comes with a 6 month / 6,000 mile warranty, a Lifetime Engine Guarantee, and has no dings, no dents and no scratches. Find your perfect vehicle with unmatched guarantees today.

www.carshop.com

And once you get to a VDP and click the Buy Online button, it redirects you to this Cox site:

https://online.carshop.com/

post search - 3 clicks, only to get to this...

 

[Rob]

post search - 3 clicks, only to get to this...

View attachment 5682

Someone needs to explain to me why vendors are pushing soft pulls so early in the process.

Could be I'm clueless; it happens; but I just picture people nope-ing out of there all day long.

 

[Shawn Zents]

With the DR abandonment rate being so high, why do companies continue to invest millions into these tools? What's the goal? Why is the UX so poor that consumers won't finish the process?