Share your expertise
Expand your dealership’s customer base with EV expertise and services. With thousands of new electric vehicles hitting the road, auto dealerships are discovering new opportunities to become essential partners to both their customers and a wider network of EV advocates. Harnessing the momentum of the EV movement can help your dealership keep up with public demand and help customers find a vehicle that meets their needs.
Early and enthusiastic adoption of EVs can help to position your dealership as a leader and resource in your community, allowing you to grow and adapt with your customers. Here are some ways to stay ahead of the EV curve and support customers along the way.
Know the EV basics
Brush up on the EV market
Dealers can start by making sure that their teams have a basic knowledge of the EV market and vehicle particulars like batteries, charging options and life expectancy. Demonstrating your EV expertise will help to build trust with customers and encourage them to reach out to you for knowledge and services over the course of their EV’s lifespan.
Help your customers save money with rebates
The many rebates and incentives available for EVs and chargers can be a powerful selling feature, so make it easy for your customers to take advantage of those savings. Becoming familiar with these offers will allow your team to effectively guide your customers to relevant programs and through rebate applications for vehicles and chargers.
Building your team’s knowledge of the associated rebate programs, such as point of sale rebates through CEV for BC, will also help you provide related services, such as trade-in appraisals for customers hoping to take advantage of programs like SCRAP-IT.
Don’t forget about charging
And speaking of chargers, becoming familiar with charging options for different types of customers is also important. Developing this knowledge will help you answer your customers’ questions about charging and reinforce your role as an expert during their purchasing process.
Become a charger expert
Learn about charger types and features so you can educate your customers.
Tips for smooth EV sales
Make sure batteries are 100% charged for test drives
This may seem obvious, but it’s actually easy to overlook. Charging up your EVs before test drives will give buyers a better sense of the vehicle’s range, and ensure that they won’t run out while driving.
Find and empower your team’s EV enthusiast
Having an EV expert at your dealership is a great way to make sure that your most-informed customers’ questions are met with knowledgeable answers. While everyone on your team should know EV basics, having at least one go-to person who understands the jargon and is excited about EVs is a huge asset.
Have chargers installed and operational at the dealership
As mentioned, it’s important to make sure that your dealership’s EVs are charged, so having chargers on-site is a big help. Although you can charge up at public stations, on-site units will also let you demonstrate their use to customers who may be in the market for one of their own as well.
Acknowledge industry changes
Innovation can be a powerful marketing tool, and acknowledging and embracing transformation in the industry signals to customers that your dealership is proactive and forward-focused.