Volkswagen Targeting Online Sales By 2020

Source: REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

Volkswagen, in partnership with dealerships, will build a new sales platform by 2020 that "will handle the entire purchasing process through to contract conclusion, including financing, payment and even used car trade-ins." The new platform will allow Volkswagen to sell directly to customers online for the first time and will also enable over-the-air software updates for their electric "ID" family of vehicles. Volkswagen expects to launch mass production of new electric cars built using its new MEB platform by 2022 and has stated that it believes the "online business will make a key contribution to the development of the new sales model."

The new sales platform will work together with Volkswagen's current dealership network according to Volkswagen. In November, European dealerships are expected to sign a contract that will allow Volkswagen to launch these new services. 

Rivals, like Tesla, are already offering over-the-air updates and direct online sales. 

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