The name AutoNation refers to the largest public automotive sales dealership group in the United States. In 2007, AutoNation launched a new sales model, AutoNation Direct, which deals in sales of vehicles to customers. By using AutoNation Direct, customers can purchase vehicles without ever having to physically visit a dealership. Connecting to the online AutoNation Direct sales network offers consumers a variety of different benefits.
The AutoNation dealership group, as of December 2010, offered an online buying experience for customers in three states: Florida, California and Colorado. The online buying connection allows customers in those states to purchase a motor vehicle through any of AutoNation's physical sales facilities in 203 stores located in 15 different states. The consumer can purchase the vehicle either online or by telephone as described at the LeaseTrader website.
Some of the advantages of connecting with a vehicle through the AutoNation Direct system include that AutoNation direct has established relationships with such groups as employee groups and credit unions that help to enhance the process. The AutoNation Direct model has a design made to support a hassle-free experience. The model also includes pickup of any trade-in vehicle and delivery of the newly purchased vehicle so that the customer need not go to the dealership at all even for vehicle acquisition also as described at the LeaseTrader website. Other advantages to the AutoNation system include that the company makes every car in the AutoNation network available for sale through this online system, and that the sales staff does not work on the traditional commission model but on a team goal compensation model which encourages a better customer experience.
Although the AutoNation Direct system began only in 2007, as early as 2009 at least one group that recognized the benefits to its membership already provided a certification award for the AutoNation Direct system. The WomenCertified organization provides its seal to an AutoNation Direct program title "Car Buying Her Way," which focuses on better meeting the vehicle purchase need of female car buyers. A prerequisite to this certification involves that 70 percent of the company's sales team finish a training program that addresses gender communications and specialized customer service. While the training focuses on "what women want" in their purchasing experience, all customers benefit because the program also trains toward setting an overall excellence standard for service as described at the PRLog website. The introduction of dedicated personal shoppers into the program also enhances the purchasing experience, which because of AutoNation's control over all the components of the purchase such as the inventory, price and trade-in value gives the AutoNation Direct consumer the additional benefit that only AutoNation can provide both an attractive vehicle price and a customer-sensitive purchasing experience.
