Online retail has been laying waste to bricks-and-mortar shops of all varieties. Widespread cutbacks and closures of store chains such as Macy?s and Borders underscore that consumers certainly don’t mind having a blouse or a book delivered to their doorsteps with the click of a mouse. Those items often show up at reduced prices, too. For some consumers in sprawling suburbs, where navigating boulevards lined with strip malls can be a chore, internet shopping has been a godsend. So, where does the rise of online retail leave sales of cars and trucks, or more specifically, the physical dealerships, which are just bricks-and-mortar car stores"
At the 2017 National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention in New Orleans, some speakers forecast a looming online car-sales boom. Mark O’Neil, chief operating officer of e-commerce and marketing firm Cox Automotive, told attendees at Automotive News‘ retail forum that 10 percent of all vehicle sales could be completely online by 2019. He said online retail could become a disruptive force in the automotive market similar to the way Uber and Airbnb have upended the taxi and hotel industries. He also said, however, that the owners of dealerships would not have to worry as long as they adapt and invest in their online offerings, Automotive News reported. Going the Way of the Horse-Drawn Carriage"
Ford president and CEO Mark Fields appeared to be alluding at least partly to online disruption, if not ...