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Vauxhall has started piloting a live video streaming service for vehicle demonstrations at the Tony Levoi Vauxhall dealership in Romford, Essex.

The new service, provided by live video supplier Go Instore, allows customers to receive live interactive demonstrations and ask questions to the retailer sales team from the comfort of their own home or on the move.

The customer’s camera is never accessed, so it is a one-way video communication channel, but two-way audio.

The video call sessions that take place between customers and the retailer are not recorded or saved and no personal information is taken, unless at the request of the customer during the call itself.

Vauxhall has created the live streaming service in response to how automotive retail is changing, with showroom visits falling from up to four to just 1.5 before purchasing.

Geoff Champion, general manager at Tony Levoi said: “Our aim for the service is to offer customers even more convenience and make the process of purchasing a car as simple as possible.”

Andre Hordagoda, co-founder of Go Instore said: “Our launch with Vauxhall Motors marks a significant moment in the journey for OEMs to redefine the role of their dealer networks.

“Go Instore brings a wealth of experience, taking insights from our collaborations within the automotive industry, but also from retailers including Hewlett Packard, Dixons Carphone Group and Cartier, among others.

“Vauxhall’s dynamic approach to bridging the gap between online and offline show’s a real willingness to lead innovation in this space and we look forward to growing the partnership across the UK.”