App lets users explore vehicles, compare options and request quotes in one place
Service launches with Grandeur, with expansion to imports and domestic models planned
Chabot Mobility announced Monday the launch of a 3D virtual showroom that allows users to browse vehicles and request price quotes without visiting a dealership.
The Chabot Virtual Showroom is a digital showroom service that goes beyond basic vehicle information, letting users inspect cars, compare options and proceed to quotes and consultations — all within a single platform. The company said its goal is to connect the vehicle browsing and purchase conversion process on one platform to improve customer convenience and sales efficiency.
Built on 3D graphics technology, the service runs instantly in a mobile environment without requiring a separate program installation or streaming. Users can view a vehicle's exterior and interior in 360 degrees without a high-performance PC, and compare trims, exterior colors, interior materials and options through touch controls.
Notable features include visual renderings of key optional equipment such as a panoramic sunroof, head-up display and convenience package, offering an experience similar to inspecting an actual vehicle.
Chabot Mobility said it focused on addressing the friction in existing online car-buying processes, where vehicle browsing, option comparison and quote inquiries had been handled separately. Users who decide to buy while exploring a vehicle can immediately request a consultation and quote without navigating away.
The company expects the service to offer a new option for consumers who feel uncomfortable with face-to-face sales consultations. The virtual showroom lets users configure vehicle specifications freely around the clock and proceed to a consultation only after sufficient review.
For automakers, the service is expected to serve as a new digital sales channel. It lets brands deliver an immersive vehicle experience to customers without a physical showroom or on-site display car, while enabling more precise analysis of purchase intent through data on customers' option selections and browsing behavior.
Chabot Mobility plans to expand the service to major imported and domestic vehicle models by year-end, starting with the Grandeur. The company also intends to broaden its scope into personalized bespoke content projects that let customers configure their preferred specifications, and to develop the offering into a digital content platform leveraging vehicle intellectual property from automakers.
"The virtual showroom is an attempt to change not how people look at cars, but how they buy them," said Kang Byeong-hui, vice president of Chabot Mobility. "We will develop it into a platform that gives consumers greater purchase confidence and provides brands with a new sales touchpoint."
The service was developed in collaboration with design-tech firm TEMPEST. The company has built web-based 3D vehicle configuration systems in partnership with domestic automakers including Kia and Genesis.
eyre@heraldcorp.com
