Volvo has joined forces with Amazon’s high-speed delivery service Prime Now to bring the test drive out of the showroom and directly to customers.
Motorists in four UK cities can now book test drives of the latest Volvo V40 hatchback through the internet retailer. The initiative, which aims to offer greater convenience, is available in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh on selected weekends during June and July.
It’s actually a rather fitting partnership, with the two companies names harking back to the iconic Volvo Amazon of the 50s and 60s.
The process is very simple, with customers simply entering their details on the dedicated Amazon page, selecting their location and choosing a time slot.
The vehicle is then delivered to the customer’s home or workplace by a trained expert, who can explain all the functions and features during the drive, which has the advantage of taking place on roads familiar to the customer.
The drives last 45 minutes each, and if customers are still interested in the car after their experience they will be directed to their local Volvo retailer.
Should the initial run of Prime Now test drives prove successful, it’s likely Volvo will look into expanding the scheme. It comes just months after the manufacturer introduced its ‘Care by Volvo’ ownership package, which combines lease fees, vehicle tax, insurance and maintenance into one monthly subscription fee with no up-front cost.
Jon Wakefield, managing director of Volvo Car UK, said: “At Volvo Cars, we aim to make people’s lives easier. Our ‘Prime Now’ test drive offer does just that, allowing potential customers to try our V40 on their terms and in familiar surroundings.
“We’re proud to team up with Amazon to deliver this unique initiative – the first of its kind in the UK and the latest in a range of offerings from Volvo designed to take the hassle out of running a car.”