San Antonio's Red McCombs Ford, which is one of the most successful Ford dealerships in the country, is beta testing the way we will buy cars in the future, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
General Manager Sean Barry tells News Radio 1200 WOAI the dealership was invited by Ford Motor Credit to test AutoFi technology, which can allow customers to apply for a car loan on line, away from the dealership, which makes the buying process quicker and avoids the tedious paperwork which can bog down the experience.
"We love our customers, but we don't want the customers here for four to five hours any more than the customers does, right," he said. "It is a win-win for both parties."
Red McCombs Ford and McCombs Ford West are two of a dozen dealership in eight markets nationwide which are testing the AutoFi system.' Barry says customers can go to the dealership web site from anywhere, on any device, using the new platform from Ford Motor Credit Company and AutoFi, which is a financial technology company.They can enter and get immediate responses to all information entered, and can have their auto loan processed on line.
Barry says a survey taken by Harris Poll on behalf of Ford Motor Credit shows customers don't favor a purely on line 'Amazon Style' approach to buying cars, they still want to touch and feel the new vehicle before signing on the dotted line.
But they also list the cumbersome nature of getting a car loan as the number one detriment to the process today.
He says Ford Motor Credit chose the two local dealerships to beta test the process.
"They came to us, and asked us if we could help launch this program and we were glad to do it," he said. "We want to make sure San Antonio customers have the best buying experience of anywhere."
He says after it is tested at Red McCombs, he expects Ford to shift to this new system nationwide, probably early next year.
"It cuts four hours of transaction time down to five or ten minutes."