Mahindra & Mahindra on Friday announced the launch of its integrated online platform, which will allow end-to-end sales experience for prospective buyers during the lockdown amid the Coronavirus outbreak. Under the new initiative – Own Online, a customer can finance, exchange, and own a company vehicle in just four simple steps from the comforts of their homes, maintaining social distancing norms.

M & M CEO, Automotive Division Vijay Nakra, said in a statement, "With our pre and post-purchase online solutions already in place, reimagining the car purchase experience was a logical next step for us."

He further noted that in recent times online has been the preferred channel for purchase across all categories, and going forward online purchase of vehicles is set to get more traction.

M & M has a pan-India network spanning over 270 dealers and above 900 touch-points, all integrated with the Own Online platform, the company further added.

Under the new initiative, M & M is ready to lead this change in the automotive retail industry. The Own Online platform enables customers to personalize their vehicles, instantly generate an exchange, get finance and insurance quotations, and make booking payment, making the car ownership journey end-to-end and online in the real sense.The COVID-19 pandemic has made a detrimental impact on the automobile manufacturing sector. In April, Mahindra & Mahindra had no vehicles sold, including passenger and commercial.

The sales of Tractors in the domestic market also declined by 83 percent compared to the previous year. The company is taking necessary precautions across the customer interaction process such as documentation services, vehicle delivery, and test drives in order to maintain high hygiene standards. Under the new initiative – Own Online, a customer can finance, exchange, and own a company vehicle in just four simple steps from the comforts of their homes, maintaining social distancing norms.