In this week's round-up of automotive gossip, Mercedes gives buyers the gift of time, Kia pours water on online sales utility, Volvo snubs wireless charging and more.
Mercedes' helping hand
Hybrid and electric car customers typically need more support from retailers before they commit to a purchase, according to Mercedes-Benz’s head of sales and marketing, Britta Seeger. “We take the time to identify if the car really suits their needs,” she said. “These are big changes, and it is right that customers take their time to be sure before they commit.”
Kia's face-to-face focus
Kia has no plans to push online sales in the UK, said boss Paul Philpott: “The complexity of products is increasing, not decreasing. There’s more need than ever to go and speak to someone face to face.”
Volvo not wiring in to wireless
Wireless charging for electric cars is an over-engineered solution, according to Volvo boss HÃ¥kan Samuelsson. “If you have a space to charge, then it takes 10 seconds to plug a car in,” he said. Volvo plans to launch five fully electric models during the next five years, including the now-on-sale XC40 P8 Recharge.
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Jazz
V-ger wrote:
Its not just the Jazz that is an old persons car, its their whole range apart from the Civic type R, and its the reason Honda sales have tanked in the UK.
Citytiger wrote:
Really have to agree, having owned two new Hondas, a trip to the dealer was always sobering, awash with oldies. But I would add, the smarter ones with a few quid to spend sensibly. Its not Honda's brilliant Formula 1 engines bringing them in, its solid reliability, good practicality and pretty sound long term residuals (Try finding a cheap recent used HR-V).
A Jazz type R would be a hoot