Virtual Showroom is relatably a new concept in Nepal. It has been in operation by a few of the automobile companies recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic and fear among the people to actually come out and experience the car physically.

What is Virtual Showroom?

A virtual showroom is basically a video chat between a customer and a car salesperson where they walk around the car and provide you with all the key specifications.

How is Virtual Showroom different from a car review on the internet?

“Virtual showroom is a live video chat in between the customer and the salesperson. You can directly ask your queries which might not have been covered in the review video.”, states Suman Regmi, Manager- Marketing Communications, Go Automobiles.

How effective is Virtual Showroom in Nepal?

Digitization has just been mushrooming in Nepal. It is reportedly growing after the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown where people could not come out of their house but had to buy necessary goods. Virtual Showroom came with the same concept, however, the car being a huge investment, it has not been effective for now.

“A car is an expensive commodity to purchase. People just don’t buy a car without actually seeing, touching, or experiencing it. The online market has not fully been trusted in the Nepalese market. Big online markets have recently got a huge customer due to COVID pandemic, the virtual showroom is just a kickstart.”, states Sijan Neupane, Marketing Head, Agni Mahindra.

According to Rupesh Sharma Bhatta, General Manager, Laxmi Hyundai, there are three things that make virtual showroom ineffective for the recent times,

1) An automobile is a high-value purchase, people need to experience, touch, and feel the car in order to buy.

2) The Nepalese market is not prepared and lacks confidence in buying a car online.

3) Payment made through bank finance should be incorporated online, which is a lengthy procedure for customers, sellers, and the bank.

However, he also adds that this is a new concept, and with time it is certain that an automobile seller may cash in some percentage of their sales through online medium. For that, the market should be confident in an online purchase and a dedicated consultant with the motive of entertaining customer’s queries would be required to make the virtual showrooms effective.

 

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Skoda Auto has released a teaser of its upcoming all-electric SUV- the ENYAQ iV. Based on the MEB platform, it measures at 4648 mm in length, is 1877 mm wide and is 1618 mm tall. Skoda also says that the customers will have an option to choose from different interior concepts and for the first time it will be using sustainable materials like leather tanned with olive extract to finish the interiors.

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The all-electric SUV is set to be built at ŠKODA’s main plant in Mladá Boleslav, making it the first MEB-based Volkswagen Group vehicle in Europe to be produced outside Germany. The ŠKODA Enyaq will be offered in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variants with three different battery capacities and five performance specs.

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ŠKODA Enyaq Variants:

The base version will be equipped with a 55 kWh battery pack with a 109 kWh electric motor mounted on the rear axle. It will deliver a range of up to 340 km.

The ŠKODA Enyaq iV 60 with a 132 kW electric motor and a 62 kWh battery. This version will have a range of 390 kilometres.

The Enyaq iV 80 will offer the biggest range of up to 500 km. It will get an 82 kWh battery capacity and a 150 kW electric motor.

The ŠKODA Enyaq iV 80X will offer 195 kW of power, while the downright sporty RS variant will deliver 225 kW. The top-of-the-range model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.2 seconds and has a top speed of 180 km/h. Both four-wheel-drive variants will have a maximum range of 460 kilometres.

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ŠKODA Enyaq Charging options:

The ŠKODA ENYAQ iV can be charged in three different ways. In addition to the conventional 230-volt household plug socket with an AC output of 2.3 kW, the vehicle can also be conveniently topped up overnight at home using a wall box delivering up to 11 kW. This takes six to eight hours depending on the size of the battery. DC fast-charging stations with a charging output of 125 kW are the third option. These can recharge the ENYAQ iV’s battery from 10% to 80 per cent in just 40 minutes.

By introducing the ENYAQ iV, ŠKODA is pressing ahead with its electromobility campaign, which began at the end of 2019 with the CITIGOᵉ iV and the SUPERB iV. As part of the brand’s strategy, more than ten electrified iV models are scheduled to be launched between 2019 and the end of 2022.

The vehicle’s world premiere will also mark the start of advance sales; serial production of the ŠKODA ENYAQ iV will start at the end of 2020. Its market launch is scheduled to take place at the beginning of 2021.

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As the times are difficult, today’s saving will help us to secure our coming days. Understanding the needs of this difficult time to save, Laxmi Commercial Vehicles’ SML ISUZU has introduced a new special saving package for its customers. With this special package, customers will have the opportunity to save prior to their earning. 

SML ISUZU will be offering 100% discount on the EMI Payment of first 6 months of the auto loan for the commercial vehicle to the customers under this offer. The discount will be applicable only to the models financed through the banks affiliated to this package.

Through this package, customers will be able to save prior to the income generated from the commercial vehicle they have purchased.

SML ISUZU offers:

1. Free 1-year insurance

2. 1-year road tax

3. Spot exchange facility

4. Easy Financing options 

5. 3-year warranty on School buses, Commercial / Private Buses, Trucks and Tippers 

SML ISUZU is committed to providing 100% services to its customers. Laxmi Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. has already introduced different models of School buses, Commercial / Private Buses, Trucks and Tippers which is already accepted and preferred by customers and is best for Nepalese road conditions.

The vehicle line up consists of S7 series – Buses, Standard – Buses, Executive LX Coaches( AC Buses), eco MAX – Mini Buses, Samrat& Super series - Trucks & Tippers and Sartaj 4WD.

Laxmi Group is a well-established Manufacturing and Trading House with various companies under its name. In order to create a distinct identity in the automobile sector, it started the Automotive Division several years ago and Laxmi Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. falls under this division. 

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