Yes, you read that right. Strap on your VR goggles and visit a virtual dealership to purchase your Fiat.

We knew it would happen, but this is still very strange. You can now look at, and buy a new Fiat 500e from the comfort of your own home. Whilst buying cars online is not new, the fact you can do it in virtual reality is.

The process works the same way as it would in real life, you book an appointment and meet a member of the team – just not physically. In the appointment, you can look around the car, inside and out, whilst also asking any questions you may have about the car. If you like it, then you can also buy it there and then where it will be delivered to you.

It was first launched in Italy in December 2022, with France now ‘open’ and currently, you can only look at the new 500e. However, Fiat state that more models and countries are expected to be added this year. All of this is available through the Fiat Metaverse Store where 500 appointments have already been made.

The average appointment supposedly lasts around 40 minutes, with users praising the experience of having their questions answered by a ‘Product Genius’ who is a real person.

Will dealerships be changing to this new online way or will physical dealerships be here to stay? Well, it certainly seems like it will become more popular but the lack of being able to actually drive the car could be an issue for many.