April 27, 2015—AutoNation has expanded AutoNation Express to 84 dealerships in five states—Florida, California, Washington, Colorado and Arizona—and says it is on track to have the initiative in all markets by year end.
Nineteen percent of AutoNation sales are to customers who come to the company by visiting AutoNation websites and providing contact information, and the share is rising, the company said. Customers coming from third-party sites represent 13 percent of sales, and that number is easing, AutoNation said. Adding more transactional capabilities to the digital storefront "will take our sites into the 20s and take our third-party dependence down into the high single digits over the next couple of years," he said.
AutoNation Express is managing service appointments and will add a "Buy Your Car" function in June, giving customers a price offer on a trade-in. Also planned: financing, slated for a third-quarter pilot; electronic paperwork; and AutoNation-branded products, such as service contracts. All functions are expected to be in at least pilot phase by year end.
