AFM Automotive: Unveils ‘industry-redefining’ virtual automotive showroom

Al-Futtaim Automotive has launched a ‘one-of-its-kind’ immersive and interactive virtual showroom.

The dynamic new virtual showroom unlocks possibilities to remodel the automotive retail experience. Customers wear a VR headset and are instantly transported into a lifelike virtual showroom displaying a variety of models.

Al-Futtaim Automotive says that the technology gives customers a large showroom experience, without the need for heavy real-estate investment or operation costs, while keeping the experience “edgy and innovative” for customers.

The virtual showroom has been developed in collaboration with Verse Estate, a leading Dubai-based VR-technology company producing the most photorealistic, high-impact virtual and metaverse solutions.

Al-Futtaim Automotive has named Verse Estate as their ‘Phygital Experience Partner’ with a commitment to driving innovative mobility experiences into the future.

The immersive, 3D digital environment of the virtual showroom can be experienced through VR-glasses, making it incredibly easy to install the virtual showroom at multiple locations.

Inside the virtual showroom, customers “immerse in an engagingly real” automotive buying experience by surveying the entire virtual space, seeing all the models displayed inside and out, exploring each car’s details and features – and even going to the extent of customising the car on display to a certain extent.

The platform changes the car shopping experience, by empowering customers to explore, engage and book their car.

Al-Futtaim Automotive has launched the virtual showroom for BYD, the world’s top-selling New Energy Vehicle (NEV) brand and describes it as setting a new standard for interactive e-commerce.

Commenting on the launch, Katib Belkhodja, director of Customer Centricity, Al-Futtaim Automotive, said, “As automotive market leaders, we already have a formidable presence with a wide network of showrooms. To add to that, we have launched e-commerce platforms with a seamless end-to-end purchase journey, and developed a strong digital ecosystem that helps us get accurate, personalised insights on what the customer is looking for. The immersive showroom was the next big move and has become an essential piece of our digital ecosystem. Moreover, it’s a tangible illustration of our promise of always keeping customers at the forefront of our business.

Now we don’t need to wait for the customers to come to our showroom, but rather we can take the showroom to our customers wherever they are, and this is planned with multiple roadshows with our BYD virtual showroom this year.”

Nabil Bouali, Co-Founder, Verse Estate, added: “The adoption of virtual, immersive and metaverse solutions is no longer confined to tech-sector focused enterprises, and this is clearly demonstrated in the exciting initiative launched from an industry leader like Al-Futtaim Automotive. Developing their BYD Virtual Showroom has been a remarkable journey, and we are proud to create this industry benchmark for other brands to follow.

“It’s an opportunity to reshape automotive experiences and engage with each and every customer on a new level – and we are honoured to be their Phygital Experience Partner.”

The BYD Virtual Showroom has been installed in the new flagship BYD Showroom & Discovery Center, located at Dubai Festival City, as well as at the Al-Futtaim Stand at COP28 Green Zone (Stand Number 80, Technology & Innovation Hub, Green Zone), where from 30 November to 12 December 2023, Expo City Dubai. Al-Futtaim Group has been appointed the Strategic E-Mobility Partner of COP28.

Al-Futtaim says that the virtual technology minimises the environmental impact seen in traditional brick-and-mortar showrooms, “underscoring the Group’s commitment to sustainability across its value chain.”

Al-Futtaim Automotive plans to launch the virtual showroom online, giving website visitors a chance to immerse themselves in an innovative, highly-engaging showroom journey from the convenience of their desktops.