Blog Posts
Jan 19, 2022
by Jay Traugott Industry News / Comments
Will that be home delivery or in-store pickup?
The world has changed dramatically since the onset of the pandemic almost two years ago. Yes, it's been that long. As car buying has moved online with consumers no longer forced to step foot into a dealership, automakers continue to adapt to this new consumer world order. General Motors is one of them. America's largest automaker has just announced the expansion of its e-commerce business with its new online parts marketplace.
This digital catalog consists of 45,000 parts specifically for Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac vehicles. The list of available parts includes things like oil filters, engine and cabin air filters, batteries, brake pads, windshield wiper blades, and more. GM's goal is not only to have an extensive list of spare parts available to customers but also for an easy retail experience overall.
Customers can opt for either home delivery or pick up, the latter being done at any of the 800 participating GM dealers. Staff will also be on hand to answer any questions. As an added bonus, parts purchased through this program are eligible for rewards programs from those aforementioned brands. These points can later be used towards discounts on additional parts, accessories, or GM's Certified Service dealer program. Above all, customers can be fully confident they're buying original OEM equipment from ACDelco and GM Genuine Parts.
"Our premium parts are engineered with exceptional quality to provide assurance to our customers," said John Roth, GM Customer Care and Aftersales Global VP. "The launch of this trusted online sales channel extends that peace of mind to the parts-buying experience."
Whether you're the owner of an older Chevy Silverado or a brand-new Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, this program could definitely come in handy one day.
GM estimates that online sales of parts and accessories will become a $40 billion market by 2030. The carmaker originally launched its online accessory program back in 2015 and, up until now, had around 5,000 products available. Looking ahead, customers will soon be able to purchase digital products delivered over-the-air through a digital store.
These will include things like upgrades to the Super Cruise driver-assist system and personalization themes for touchscreens. One day soon, GM customers will be able to shop, purchase, and finance new EVs entirely online. The digital retail platform, in coordination with dealers, will also enable buyers "to transition to an in-store experience" if they so choose.
Just last week, GM announced its new used car buying platform called CarBravo, another all-digital retail experience aimed at making transactions as simple as possible with a wide variety of used GM vehicles on hand.
