BMW web sales plan opposed by German dealers
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/carbuying/" rel="tag">Car Buying</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-i3-0/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/07/14-bmw-i3.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 420px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tesla/">Tesla</a> isn't the only manufacturer that is <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/04/tesla-loses-fight-to-set-up-its-own-dealers-in-texas/">facing a backlash over its plans to sell cars directly</a> to customers. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/">BMW</a> is under fire from its German dealerships over its desire to sell its cars via the internet.<br />
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BMW has plans to sell the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/bmw+i3/">new i3</a> through the World Wide Web, while a "Mobile Sales Force" will be making house calls. According to <a href="http://europe.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130722/ANE/130729994/dealers-oppose-bmw-s-plan-for-web-sales#axzz2ZnYhMt6m"><em> Automotive News Europe</em></a>, Head of German Sales Roland Krueger told German weekly <em>Wirtschaftswoche</em>, "We can imagine that Internet sales could be expanded to all models." This is the particular caveat that has traditional brick-and-mortar dealers so up in arms.<br />
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According to the head of BMW's German dealerships Werner Entenmann, "We told BMW in no uncertain terms that we cannot accept direct sales channels." <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/21/bmw-sales-idUSL6N0FR0DX20130721"><e m>Reuters</em></a> reports that an anonymous dealer has gone so far as to pledge not to use the sales force in Germany. Krueger, for what it's worth, told <em>Wirtschaftswoche </em>that the "backbone" of BMW sales will still be traditional dealerships.<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/07/23/bmw-web-sales-plan-opposed-by-german-dealers/">BMW web sales plan opposed by German dealers</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Tue, 23 Jul 2013 08:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="/rss-term-of-use/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/07/23/bmw-web-sales-plan-opposed-by-german-dealers/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20673008/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/07/23/bmw-web-sales-plan-opposed-by-german-dealers/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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