Genesis Canada is on track to open a total of 30 distributor locations across Canada before the end of calendar year 2021, which will be located in partnership with and proximity to established Hyundai dealers.
The Genesis brand launched in Canada three years ago with an entirely online model for scheduling test drives, ordering vehicles, booking service and home- or office-based delivery for customers.
Richard Trevisan, brand director of Genesis Canada, told Automotive News Canada that customers began asking for locations where they could interact with the vehicles before committing to a purchase. These locations, which are labeled internally as “distributors,” will not maintain inventory but are instead intended to be conveniently located product demonstrations hubs.
“You shop online, but in the end a car is something that you have to experience,” Trevisan said. “You have to sit in it. You have to experience the fit and finish and then drive it.”
To date, Genesis has opened 22 such locations in Canada, including boutique locations at the Square One shopping centre in Mississauga, Ont., and in the Montreal suburb of Laval. The brand also has an experience centre at Toronto Pearson International Airport.