news.com VW's net engine idles
news.com
[...]
Analysts said the effort pushes GM ahead of Ford, and far
beyond VW, which is cracking down on its dealers use of the
Web as a sales channel in the UK. A separate division of the
German corporation than in the United States, VW UK went
so far this week as to ban their dealers from selling online
through company's such as Autobytel UK, warning in a sharply
worded letter that those who did so could risk losing their
livelihood.
"These businesses may well offer retailers a tempting source of
additional business," the letter stated. "But you should be quite
clear that if you deal with them on such a basis you are in
serious breach of your dealer agreement and risk the loss of
your franchise."
[...]
Autobytel UK's chief executive Kevin Turnbull said the
company is now working with many auto dealers in
the UK, but has met particular resistance from VW,
Europe's biggest car maker. Autobytel collects 1,000
pounds per month from dealers who list on the site.
"[VW] is the only manufacturer who seems to not
accept the fact that consumers want e-commerce and
they want to use the Internet," Turnbull said. "They're
trying to stick a finger in the dike and say 'No, this is
not going to happen."
[...]
VW in the UK is taking a chance by not allowing
dealers to use services like Autobytel, as many
consumers now want to buy that way, said J.D.
Power's Denove. "If they can't buy a VW that way,
they may choose to buy another car, for that reason
and that reason alone," he said.
[...] |
