The role of the traditional car sales person may be under threat if new retail sales outlets replace car showrooms.

In the UK electric car maker Tesla is bypassing the traditional franchise model as it begins selling its cars only from outlets in shopping centres such as London’s Westfield and high street locations. This influx of new sales models has shaken the industry with manufacturers selling vehicles directly to the public with Hyundai, Audi and BMW all branching away from the traditional forecourt.

It is case of ‘the price you see is the price you pay’ and shoppers across the UK are welcoming no-haggle sales with retail style stores muscling in on local high streets, and commissioned-based selling being hotly contested by leading car manufacturers.

Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) CEO, Steve Nash, says, "The goalposts are moving and it's clear that we will see a much wider variety of sales models in the future. This requires staff who are knowledgeable, informed and adaptable. Our accreditations are aimed at assessing and developing these core skills; preparing people for today and whatever comes in the future"

A spokesperson for Tesla, says, “With fixed pricing, the idea is that it’s transparent. People don’t feel like they need to go into battle or brush up on their negotiation skills before they come into a store. They can spend that time researching electric vehicles or looking at reviews instead.”