Aaron Brzozowski 
For the time being – and perhaps to the chagrin of auto manufacturers the world over – the right to repair one’s own vehicle is one still had by car owners across the US. And while the shadetree mechanic is something of a dying breed, they’re still out there, and they’re in need of quality OE parts. Now, General Motors is making getting those parts easier than ever, launching a new online parts marketplace to serve Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac owners across the US.
For owners, the new online parts store holds the benefit of standardizing pricing and making parts shopping more convenient, as they’ll no longer have to bounce around from dealer to dealer to try to get the right parts at the right price. You’ll still be able to pick your parts up at one of 800 participating dealerships, however – especially useful if you have any questions. Or, you can opt to have them shipped directly to your home. Either way, the parts you buy are eligible for any applicable rewards programs, so you can save up points to use toward future parts, accessories, or servicing.
GM Online Parts: Just The Beginning
In the future, General Motors plans to offer more than just parts and accessories through the online parts store. The same storefront will also carry digital products delivered as over-the-air updates – for example, new functions for your Chevrolet Silverado EV’s hands-free Super Cruise system, or new personalization themes for your Hummer EV’s awe-inspiring digital dash. And it will offer subscription services for purchase, as well, putting just about everything a General Motors product owner could need into one convenient digital store.
But this is really all just a warm-up to a future in which, working with its dealers, General Motors hopes to sell and finance new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles entirely online. GM has read the writing on the wall, and the inescapable reality is that this is ultimately the direction the industry is heading.
“The future of GM retail lies at the intersection of digital and physical e-commerce,” says General Motors Chief Digital Officer Edward Kummer. “Whether it’s selling parts or vehicles, GM will meet our customers where it’s most convenient for them.”
