The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic drove a 103% uplift in demand for new car deliveries, according to AnyVan.
Since the start of lockdown AnyVan saw year on year growth of 63% in Q2 2020, followed by 144% in Q3 2020 and then 225% in Q4 2020.
Angus Elphinstone, CEO, AnyVan, said: “We believe the automotive sector is set to follow high-street retail’s rapid move online in 2021 as demand for ‘at home’ car deliveries have soared since lockdown.
“During the pandemic car retailers have wanted to sell and customers have wanted to buy, but this was difficult with restrictions. Services like ours have been able to keep the wheels turning by providing a cost-effective, safe, secure, and guaranteed delivery.
“We have seen consumer delivery demand expand from traditional small value items bought online to large and expensive purchases such as cars.
"While buying cars online has been around for a number of years the consumer confidence to do so is still quite new.
"This, and the inability to go out to view a car has fuelled the trend towards buying online, much like we have seen with high-street retail in the past decade.”
The surge in online purchasing during the coronavirus pandemic has prompted an increase in the number of people that no longer want to visits showrooms to buy cars.
Research conducted by automotive industry IT services and consultancy NTT Data, found that one in six people are looking to only use online platforms for future car purchases.
The latest findings represent a 500% increase on those that have previously bought a car entirely online.
In the past 10 years UK online retail has grown from 9% to 31%, AnyVan believes that automotive retail could see the same increase for ‘at home’ delivery if the service can bring success for sellers and good service for customers.
Elphinstone added: “Logistics businesses have been key to keeping the country moving in the last 12 months.
"We need to prove that we can keep it moving at a pace, and even speed it up, in the future when we consider this pandemic has come to a close.
"If we can do that then automotive, high-street and all other retail will benefit.”
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