As China’s used car market has been greatly affected by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), second-hand car trading companies try to boost their sales through the Internet. 

In February this year, a total of 71,100 used cars were sold in the second-hand car market, down 92.8 percent from the previous month and 91.2 percent compared with the same period last year, according to the data released by the China Automobile Dealers Association.

While on-site car purchases have been hindered during the epidemic prevention and control, second-hand car trading companies have turned to online platforms.

Guazi, a used-car selling platform in China, has taken such measures as online consultation and contract signing service to help buyers complete vehicle transactions without making physical contact with sellers. 

Youxin, another used car trading platform in China, has perfected its online car purchase model and upgraded its app so that users are able to learn about the performance and specific parameters of each product.

Meanwhile, Taoche, which focuses on used car business, enables buyers to inspect the cars via online broadcasts, providing a more secure and convenient user experience for them. 

The number of distributors who have launched live broadcasting has reached nearly 5,000, covering nearly 80 brands, statistics from Dongchedi, an automobile information platform showed.

Comments of users from various auto companies, as well as dealers, have increased by 4.7 times because of live broadcast, and the number of live shows has increased by 2.6 times.

Such promotion activities as online sales and online broadcast have not only served as a self-rescue measure taken by the second-hand car companies during the epidemic but have also reflected the transformation of the sales model in the industry.