COVID-19 has changed how we live our daily lives. It has disrupted all industries that resulted in an economic crisis where a lot of businesses are doing their best to make ends meet. As such, the feeling of uncertainty adds up to the fear brought upon by the coronavirus.
The Philippine automotive industry is one of the industries that has suffered badly due to the pandemic. With strict quarantine protocols, mobility, and the demand for cars for sale went crashing down. In fact, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) said that the total car sales from January to September 2020 saw a decrease of 44.6 percent as compared to the same period last year.
Things started to get hopeful in June 2020 as the local car market showed signs of getting back to its feet as it registered 15,578 units sold. One of the things that can be attributed to this sales performance is the demand to purchase a car due to the fear of contracting COVID-19 in public transportation. Along with the demand, car brands in the Philippines launched enticing low downpayment deals and other attracting promos to generate sales.
Car Brands Shifts Marketing Strategy
Other than capitalizing on the sudden demand for personal mobility, car brands in the Philippines have shifted its marketing strategy. Since the threat brought upon by the virus is still evident, local car brands started to go digital by revamping their online websites into a virtual showroom. By going digital and maximizing the market reach that an online platform can give, car brands found a new way to sell their cars amid COVID-19 and market their products safer, better, and more efficiently.
COVID-19 changed customers’ behavior as well as their car buying process. Today, searching for a car online is the best and safest way to canvas and purchase a vehicle instead of going to the car dealerships. Indeed, going digital is an essential aspect of today’s time. As such, car brands such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, among others have launched their respective online showroom. Through its online showroom, you can view specific car models that you’re interested in. It also gives you information about the car’s variants, prices, and specs.
When it comes to promoting their products, local car brands are using different social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Through the said social channels, car brands are making an effort to connect with potential customers or to get leads that could eventually turn into sales. Car brands in the Philippines have also been maximizing digital platforms in launching or introducing their new car models. Toyota Motor Philippines even organizes online concerts after launching a new car model.
Philkotse’s Online Automotive Platform
The points mentioned earlier are all the positive things an online platform can give. When you go digital, you save time and you can search for multiple cars under different brands in the comfort of your home. In other words, the information is just right at your fingertips.
Philkotse’s online automotive platform allows you to search for different car brands and view its respective model lineup along with up-to-date pricing, specs, and variants. Philkotse is a one-stop-shop online platform where you can view the cars offered by multiple car brands in the comfort of your home. Imagine the time you’ll save when you utilize an online platform as compared to going from one car dealership (physical or virtual) to another.
However, every positive has a set of negative like every yin has a yang. One of the problems an individual can encounter or experience when looking for a car online is the amount of information needed to be digested. It could be a challenge to understand the details shown such as the specs if an individual is not that knowledgeable about cars. This is the reason why Philkotse has a team of writers that produces articles that could help every car buyer to have an informed decision.
Philkotse has its Car News & Reviews section where you can read the latest news in the auto industry as well as honest car reviews. Moreover, Philkotse writes Car Comparison articles that aims to help readers have an overview of two car models and compare the specs side-by-side. Through this, readers will have a better understanding of which car suits them best. Philkotse’s content team also writes about car care tips and advice for better vehicle ownership and maintenance.
Philkotse.com is also data-driven when it comes to coming up with marketing strategies and different approaches. By analyzing its data, Philkotse can help provide useful insights to its dealer and OEM partners. The insights can further help both parties to gather more leads and to generate vehicle sales.
Overall, COVID-19 forced the automotive industry to invest heavily in making its online presence more visible than ever. Revamping its respective websites and launching virtual showrooms are one of the key elements to generate sales. Indeed, the digital shift brought upon by the pandemic showed how the Philippine automotive industry could maximize market reach through the use of online platforms. More importantly, the shift to go digital showed the resiliency and determination of local car brands to rise above the challenges caused by the pandemic.