In the U.S., Cox Automotive recently launched Accelerate, it’s latest connected retail platform, available across Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com.

Accelerate features a set of online tools to assist with the buying process. It’s designed to make car buying faster, easier and more enjoyable, as well as saving consumers up to an hour at the dealership, via simple, more efficient and integrated online experience for both consumers and dealers.

Research shows that at least in the U.S., the typical car buyer can spend around three hours in the dealership from start to finish, which for 50 percent of new-car buyers is entirely too long.

The first market-wide launch in Las Vegas included 24 of the city’s dealerships using Accelerate initially on their Autotrader listings, followed by listings on KBB.com. In all, more than 10,000 vehicles—an estimated 43 percent of the available inventory in the Las Vegas market on Autotrader—will be faster to buy using Accelerate.

Further market expansion of Accelerate across the U.S. is scheduled throughout 2018 and depending on its success in the U.S., we could see something similar perhaps materialize in the Canadian marketplace.

“After years of frustration and demand for a change in the car-buying process, Accelerate offers dealers a way to sell to consumers how they want to buy,” said Mike Burgiss, Vice President of Digital Retailing for Cox Automotive. “Consumers want to choose their own path to purchase, which means structuring their deal and monthly payment before visiting the dealership, and then visiting the store to confirm their numbers, test drive the vehicle, and complete the paperwork. Accelerate’s revolutionary end-to-end retailing solution delivers the shopping and buying experience nine out of 10 consumers want, and the control and efficiency dealers need, making it faster and easier than ever for dealers to close sales.”