David Tait plans to put his New York City car dealership’s new automated vehicle scanners to work.
His strategy as general manager is to integrate the camera-based UVeye systems at Mercedes-Benz Manhattan, a state-of-the-art store on the Big Apple’s west side.
Tait foresees the equipment as not only enhancing customer experiences but also helping service and used-car department staffers do their jobs faster and more accurately.
A subtler benefit is that automated scanning equipment at the 11th Avenue store reflects the advanced automotive technology associated with the German luxury brand.
UVeye offers four systems that use artificial intelligence and computer vision to inspect vehicles in seconds then produce a condition report.
The Manhattan dealership signed up for all four. They scan underbodies for leaks and mechanical issues, tires for sidewall and tread conditions; vehicle interiors for condition determinations; and exteriors for scratches, dents and other imperfections the human eye might miss.
Using such scanners from various providers is growing in the mobility industry.
For example, Fyusion imaging tunnels now operate at several Manheim auction houses in the U.S.
UVeye dealership clients include General Motors and Volvo. Toyota and other automakers use UVeye scanners in their production facilities.
Auctions and fleet operations also use UVeye equipment. Amazon recently announced it will install the Israeli company’s scanners at several of its last-mile delivery sites.
The Manhattan Mercedes store – one of the few U.S. dealerships directly owned by an auto company – touts the new scanning equipment as a customer crowd-pleaser.
“It will deliver a first-class experience by offering a complete vehicle scan for 100% of our owners at no charge,” Tait says. “Seeing is believing when it comes to underbody, tire and alignment services.”
That allows the dealership to recommend necessary maintenance and repairs that may otherwise have gone undetected. Customers immediately receive a text and photographic vehicle condition report.
It creates “peace of mind that nothing can be overlooked,” Tait says. “This will also allow us to handle the vehicles less than before, speeding up the check-in process and keeping vehicles moving quickly through the service lanes.”
His dealership’s used-car department will use the scanning equipment for trade-in appraisals and to determine reconditioning needs.
”I am excited that we are a pioneer for Mercedes-Benz here in the heart of Manhattan,” Tait says.
The feeling is mutual for UVeye CEO Amir Hever.
“After working with several of the biggest car manufacturers in the world, we are now excited to partner with Mercedes-Benz of Manhattan,” he says.
