When I received this press release I honestly thought SEAT had launched a new way of selling their cars. Perhaps, after strapping your phone to your face via Google Cardboard or similar, you could experience a SEAT before you bought one? Well, it’s not quite that – not yet anyway (if you run a car dealership, definitely have a look at doing that, I’d sign up), but SEAT had a bit of an idea when a corporate customer ordered 129 of the Leon hatchbacks.
To enhance the delivery, they created a personalised video which was shown via a Galaxy Gear headset. Inside, the Galaxy S7 showed the drivers a tour of the car’s features. This included how to operate the in-car tech and the “infotainment system” so that you could hop straight into the car and get going.
Features of the motor include ambient lighting, climate control and a “greeting message” which can be played when you get in the car. You can also apparently unlock and lock the car with your smartwatch. Nice eh?
/ Samsung technology used to execute innovative handover of 129 new SEAT Leons
/ Drivers experience SEAT Leon for the first time via Samsung S7 smartphone and VR Gear headset
/ Video content covers major controls and essential maintenance
/ Handover utilises SEAT’s technology partnership with Samsung
A virtual handover of over 100 new SEAT Leons to a large corporate customer has given a strong indication of how technology could be used to enhance the delivery experience of cars to the next generation of connected drivers.
Using a personalised video deployed via a VR Gear headset and the latest Samsung S7 smartphone, 129 new Leon hatchbacks were presented to a group of drivers who will use the cars for field work with retail marketing agency Blue Square, who deliver ‘retail theatre’ for Samsung, bringing products to life for consumers in-store.
The virtual handover covered all of the car’s features, from operating the major controls to the in-car technology including the latest Full Link infotainment system, ensuring a comprehensive handover through a visual medium that can be re-watched if necessary.
Using technology substantially reduced the time required to deliver the vehicles, enabling them to make their maiden voyage from Newark to Scotland promptly.
Meeting a brief to generate excitement among the drivers, links with Samsung through both companies were utilised to execute the idea.
SEAT announced its own partnership with Samsung at last year’s Mobile World Congress, showcasing a Leon with connectivity technology incorporated to alter the car’s ambient lighting, climate control settings, favourite music and even a greeting message upon entering the car, as well as the ability to lock and unlock the car doors using a smartwatch.
Richard Harrison, Managing Director at SEAT UK commented: “SEAT took the challenge of capturing the imaginations of a group of connected drivers, and the virtual reality concept proved a real success.
“In keeping with SEAT’s ‘Technology to Enjoy’ ethos, smartphone technology can be embraced to deliver cars to our customers in even more efficient and exciting ways by our dealers, whilst video content offers huge scope for personalisation, including capturing that all-important moment of collecting your new car. I’m sure this is just a glimpse of where we could be heading in the not too distant future.”
For more information on SEAT, visit www.seat.co.uk
