Differences when buying a new car: How it's done in the USA

In Germany when purchasing a new car, buyers can customize their vehicle using a configurator according to their preferences. Although this is also possible in America, there are some differences. USCar-Trader.com explains how to buy a new car in the USA.

Almost every driver has used the configurator on car manufacturers' websites to design a new car according to their preferences and ultimately display the total price for their dream vehicle. Whether Volkswagen, Mercedes, or BMW: Almost all manufacturers offer the service to choose from different drives, paint finishes, or special features in Germany.

This is also possible when buying a new car in the USA; however, configurators in the States have several differences. After choosing a vehicle model on the manufacturer's website, such as the VW Atlas, you can select various equipment lines already equipped with corresponding special features and extras. This means: customizing the features is only possible to a limited extent!

For example, if customers choose the base model, in the case of the VW Atlas, the SE variant, they get a vehicle with 18-inch alloy wheels, a digital speedometer display (8 inches), and an emergency brake assist. Heated seats and a blind-spot assistant are already standard. The VW Atlas offers a total of five versions, which, with an increasing base price, offer an increased number of features, such as larger alloy wheels, automatic climate control, or additional assistance systems.

Hardly any individual wishes possible

In the next step, car buyers choose the engine, with a fixed drive usually assigned to each vehicle model. This means that the cheapest standard model often cannot be combined with the most powerful engine. Instead, only smaller adjustments are available, such as drive type (front, rear, or all-wheel drive) or transmission. Those who want a high-performance model cannot be satisfied with the standard equipment.

Subsequently, interested parties can choose the paint finish and a color for the interior. Finally, only minor details are left. Car buyers can choose wheels, for example, and order additional equipment (roof rack, bicycle rack, etc.). However, it is not possible to make in-depth changes to the vehicle. In contrast to the German market, where new cars can be customized down to the smallest detail according to individual requirements, car buyers in the USA must be satisfied with standard variants.

A solution in Germany as well?

Is this concept conceivable in Germany? Yes! The individual configuration of vehicles poses significant challenges for car manufacturers, and customers must expect considerable waiting times, especially in the current situation. The configurators of some car manufacturers, such as Tesla, have already been reduced to a minimum, comparable to the American system. Volkswagen's configurator has also been adapted to the US system for some time.

Most configurators on the websites of German car manufacturers are too complex, posing challenges for inexperienced car buyers. It is not without reason that more than 80 percent of all interested parties want personal contact in the car dealership. Only one in ten new cars is bought online. Online shopping for car purchases? Less likely in the future! This could also lead to car manufacturers further simplifying the configurator on their website in the future.