CoDriver: An app to replace the sales person during a test drive
An ambitious new project by a company called Ignition is an app that aims to do the job of a sales executive during a test drive, without the need for one to be sat in the car.
Setup can be done easily via an iOS device
Online car sales are here, and they’re probably here to stay. But an essential part of the car buying experience is the test drive. After all, a brochure can only tell you so much, it is the way a car makes you feel. While companies have taken measure to still host test drives in a safe manner — be it from a customer’s home or at the dealership — a company called Ignition has developed an app called CoDriver that will play pre-recorded content during a test drive.
The app can also be cleverly programmed to guide customers on different routes depending on the car — take you on an open road for a sporty car or a regular city street for a commuter. Neat. The app provides all the information relevant to the car during the test drive and does so consistently, thanks to GPS integration.
This essentially solves multiple problems, the first of which is social distancing. With this app you will be able to safely take a test drive without having someone else in the car, which is more hygienic. The second problem it solves is that in case car makers do shift to unaccompanied test drives, there would be no one to explain the car’s functions, thus defeating a fairly major purpose of the test drive. Thirdly, security. Now, this has not been mentioned in the release but surely the company will be able to relay the GPS position of the car back to the dealer, helping them stay aware of which car is out for a test drive and where it is exactly.
With the new normal requiring social distancing, car makers have put in place measures like restricting only one person per test drive and having a sales executive in the back seat, but what if this isn't enough? Will an app like CoDriver be the solution? Maybe. Technology must be used innovatively to tackle the problems of today and this seems like a rather ingenious solution.
Karan Singh, Correspondent, evo India
Perhaps as much in love with Porsche 911s as he is with sneakers (and good food), Karan claims his love for cars started before he learnt to speak, even though there is a rumour around the office that he fell asleep while attending his first ever Grand Prix! He likes to find weird quirks about cars and dedicates a fairly large space in his head to random car facts and an equally large space in his heart for cars with cool specs. He came across this career path by chance, and going by how excited he gets as soon as new metal rolls into the office, he seems to be loving everyday of his journey as an automotive journalist.
