HYUNDAI wants to target its SME customers more effectively through LinkedIn, the professional contact social media website.
Martin Wilson, Hyundai fleet director, said it was all about the brand being more professional in its dealings with potential customers.
“We need to use LinkedIn to understand customers before we sit in front of them. We are really dedicated to being present online and using the online facilities in the best way we can.
“But I think we can also use LinkedIn to identify potential customers and engage with them,” he added.
Martin said that Hyundai was also considering having its own LinkedIn group: “I’ve seen what other manufacturers do successfully and I think we need to be part of that customer engagement.”
New demonstrator fleet
As well as engaging SME customers online, Martin said that Hyundai would also be providing more metal for SME businesses to drive to test Hyundai cars.
In addition to a centrally controlled demonstrator fleet for customer appraisal, Hyundai is also investing in courtesy cars for dealers.
“We want to give dealers access to cars on a rental basis so they can promote Hyundai in their local business market,” continued Martin.
“This can be many things. It can be a longer-term demonstrator that is taken around all local businesses, or it might be a couple of i10 city cars for the local bodyshop that will ensure more people get to drive our product. It doesn’t matter – that’s up to the dealers.
“The rental cars are there to add more vehicles so the dealers can prospect the local business more effectively.”
The dealer rental cars are being provided by contract hire and leasing firm ALD Automotive, the company that underwrites the Hyundai Contract Hire business car lease programme.
Martin said that he thought newer small business customers coming to Hyundai would be attracted by the Hyundai Contract Hire rates, with offers such as the Hyundai i40 for £197 a month.
Hyundai also offers preferential purchase rates to SME customers for those that wish to purchase their company cars.
