Tesla pioneering contactless car purchases

Tesla has announced it is on the verge of introducing new measures that will make the entire process of buying a Model 3, S and X - from test drive to delivery - completely contactless.

In the wake of the global coronavirus outbreak and enforced social distancing, the US car-maker has already implemented a series of improvements to the purchase experience in lockdown China, where restrictions are beginning to ease.

These involve changing how customers can arrange test drives of the car they're interested in by moving the process online.

Instead of meeting with a salesperson, potential buyers can pre-book a car online or over the phone.

When they arrive at a designated time, their car will be available fully sanitised for their drive, with the car unlocked remotely via the Tesla app.

Inside, instead of a Tesla rep guiding you through the features of the car, the car-maker provides a tutorial on the car's touchscreen infotainment system to help you manage the pure-electric sedan or SUV's various functions.

When the car is returned, Tesla says the purchases can be continued online, with new owners given up to seven days or 1600km to decide if they want to keep their car.

In markets like the US, two contactless delivery services have also been introduced – an Express Delivery or Direct Drop.

The first involves Tesla's app and requires you to still travel to a Tesla Delivery Centre to check in for a scheduled appointment.

When you arrive the app's location tracking directs you to your new car. Upon finding it, there are documents awaiting inside, ready and prepared for signing.

New owners are then offered another second tutorial to help familiarise them with their new car before leaving the dealer.

Another option is the Tesla Direct Drop that allows the new owner to sign everything online before shipping a sanitised car to their home, although in the US this option is only available to some parts of the country.

To minimise contact with your dealer or save on any unnecessary journeys, the car-maker says any faults, repairs or servicing can be carried out by its Tesla Rangers mobile mechanics that have also been trained to sanitise the car.

Instead of direct contact, owners are requested to remotely unlock their cars for Rangers to work on their cars. The Tesla mechanic then locks the car and texts when all the work has been completed.

It's not known when, or if, Tesla plans to roll out its contactless service to Australia but other European markets are expecting the socially distanced features to go live in a matter of weeks.