VR car showrooms have gained significant traction in recent years as automotive businesses recognize the power of this technology to captivate and engage their customers. By creating a fully immersive, three-dimensional environment, VR car showrooms allow customers to virtually experience products and services in a way that was previously impossible.

In this article, we’ll highlight some of the standout VR car showrooms that are setting new benchmarks for the industry.

How did we choose the top VR car showrooms?

• We looked for a VR car showrooms that offer highly detailed, true-to-life 3D models of vehicles. The ability to closely examine the exterior and interior in lifelike scale is essential for an immersive car shopping experience.
• The VR showrooms had to allow customers to actively interact with the vehicles. This includes configuring options, taking virtual test drives, and even trying on different paint colors or interior trims.
• It was important that the showrooms provided a more engaging and informative experience. It was taken into consideration if the showroom included hotspots with details on engine specs, performance, etc.

RelayCars

RelayCars is a virtual reality (VR) platform that offers users the opportunity to experience and shop for cars in an immersive, 3D environment. The platform consists of two main products: a VR app for regular consumers and a VR platform for automotive dealerships.

RelayCars is accessible for free on the Meta Quest VR headset and Steam, providing consumers with a room-scale showroom experience. Users can step inside and view accurate 3D models of vehicles, exploring both the interior and exterior in 360° VR. The platform boasts an extensive database of over 1300 cars, with new models added on a weekly basis.

RelayCars Pro is a VR sales platform tailored for automotive dealerships. It enables customers to feel like they are in the driver’s seat of any car in the VR database. Dealership salespeople can control and guide the customer’s VR tour using a companion app on an Android device.

The introduction of RelayCars 8 brought the RelayCars Garage, an immersive showroom that allows car shoppers and dealers to select, save, and compare vehicles. The platform showcases how VR is utilized by auto manufacturers to present their products in a unique and engaging manner.

Vroom VR Showroom

Vroom, the online car retailer, has launched a VR showroom to offer customers an immersive car shopping experience. Developed in collaboration with a Dallas-based marketing firm and HTC, the creator of the Vive VR headset, the VR showroom features interactive elements such as accessing real-time information about the cars and listening to engine sounds.

Customers can explore a variety of car models priced between $25,000 and $60,000 without leaving their homes. By wearing VR headsets, customers can virtually navigate a car lot, inspect car interiors, and even take virtual test drives.

Vroom’s plan is to establish these VR showrooms in Texas and in pop-up stores in Austin and Phoenix initially. If successful, the company intends to expand the concept nationwide, providing customers with a unique and immersive way to shop for cars.

The VR showroom is designed to simplify the car buying process by enabling customers to compare and explore multiple car models in a short amount of time, eliminating the need to visit multiple dealerships. Vroom aims to leverage this innovative technology to build trust and confidence in its online car buying experience.

Audi City Showroom

The Audi City showroom in London utilizes virtual reality technology to showcase Audi’s full range of models and enable extensive customization.

Customers begin by using iPads to select and configure their desired Audi, choosing everything from the exterior color to the interior trim and engine type. Once the configuration is complete, the customer steps into a dedicated 16×16 foot VR area and wears an HTC Vive headset along with high-end Bang & Olufsen headphones. This immerses them in a fully realized 3D model of their customized Audi vehicle, where they can explore the exterior, open doors and trunk, examine details, and even sit in the driver’s seat, all within the virtual environment.

The VR experience is powered by high-end HP workstations with multiple Nvidia graphics cards, allowing the 3D vehicle models to be rendered at 90 frames per second with minimal latency. This ensures the virtual car appears lifelike and convincing to the customer. Audi has implemented two versions of the VR showroom experience – the advanced HTC Vive setup at flagship locations like Audi City London, and a seated Oculus Rift version at other dealerships. The company sees virtual reality as a way to empower dealers and enhance the overall customer experience.

In the first year after opening, Audi’s London showroom saw a 60-70% increase in new car sales, with customers on average spending 120% above MSRP due to the customization options.

Kia VR Showroom

The Kia VR Showroom is an immersive online platform that allows customers to explore and interact with Kia’s latest vehicle models in a virtual environment.

The showroom features a range of Kia vehicles, including the Picanto, Soluto, Seltos, Stonic, Sportage, and K2500, each with detailed 3D models that can be rotated and inspected from various angles. Users can ‘walk around’ the vehicles, accessing information about their features and specifications. For instance, they can explore the interior of the Kia Seltos, learn about its infotainment system, and view its spacious cabin. The showroom also enables users to compare different Kia models side-by-side, helping them find the vehicle that best fits their needs.

In addition to the virtual showroom, Kia offers a VR Driving Center where users can experience a simulated driving experience with Kia vehicles. This feature provides an immersive way for customers to get a feel for the handling and performance of Kia’s models before visiting a physical dealership.

The Kia VR Showroom is designed to be accessible on a variety of devices, including mobile, desktop, and tablet, and is optimized for fast loading times and compatibility with older hardware. The virtual environment is built using a mixture of web-based technologies, including PlayCanvas and Three.js, to deliver a seamless and engaging user experience.

Jaguar Land Rover Virtual Experience

Jaguar Land Rover has developed an advanced VR system that has revolutionized its vehicle design and development process. The company’s virtual reality studio, often referred to as the ‘virtual cave’, allows engineers and designers to visualize full-size 3D models of vehicle components and entire cars long before physical prototypes are available. The high-resolution 3D images generated by the VR system enable Jaguar Land Rover to optimize a wide range of vehicle features, including exterior and interior design, aerodynamics, crash performance, wiring and pipework routing, and manufacturing processes. This allows the company to identify and resolve issues early in the development cycle, vastly reducing the need for costly physical prototypes and test mileage.

Jaguar Land Rover estimates that its virtual reality system has saved the company over £8 million in vehicle development costs over a two-year period, by cutting time and expenses normally associated with traditional development methods. The technology has been instrumental in the design of recent models like the Jaguar XJ and Range Rover Evoque.

Beyond the engineering and design benefits, Jaguar Land Rover has also leveraged VR to enhance the customer experience. The company has rolled out VR packs to over 1,500 retailers in 85 markets, allowing customers to have a 360-degree immersive look at vehicles before they arrive in showrooms.

Mazda Virtual Reality Tours

Mazda has embraced virtual reality technology to enhance the car shopping and driving experience for its customers. They have created VR showrooms that allow customers to explore and experience new Mazda models from the comfort of their own homes, helping reach customers who may not be able to physically visit a dealership. For example, Kia has also launched VR showrooms to showcase their latest vehicles.

Mazda offers potential buyers the opportunity to take a virtual test drive of vehicles like the MX-5 and CX-5 using VR headsets. This allows customers to experience driving the car without having to visit a dealership. Additionally, Mazda has created VR tours that take customers behind the scenes and provide a history of the Mazda brand and its vehicles, strengthening brand recognition and emotional connection with customers.

Moreover, Mazda has made it possible for people to virtually tour its museums, such as the Mazda Classic – Automobil Museum Frey in Germany. Customers can get a 360-degree view of the historic Mazda models on display. This innovative approach enhances the overall customer experience and showcases Mazda’s commitment to leveraging technology to engage with their audience effectively.

Conclusion

By blending digital convenience with a realistic, engaging experience, the best VR showrooms are changing how people shop for and purchase their next vehicle. The featured cutting-edge VR car showrooms offer a variety of innovative features. They include 360-degree vehicle walkarounds, virtual test drives, and personalized configuration options. Without a doubt VR’s integration in automotive retail will continue to be not only a great marketing tool but also attract more customers not only into purchasing vehicles but also adopting VR technology.