Skoda partners with Alipay to allow Chinese buy cars online

Chinese customers are now able to purchase cars from the Volkswagen-owned Czech automaker Skoda without any need to leave their homes. The car company is the first to offer online payment services to buyers in China. On a dedicated website ebuy.skoda.com.cn potential Skoda consumers can negotiate and perform transactions right from their PCs.

Customers can complete purchases through a 3D showroom. The site also allows them to file individualized orders and price inquiry. A deposit online can be made through the eBuy's strategic partner, Alipay, an online payment arm of Alibaba.

Meantime experts question the viability of such business doubting if the site would gain widespread acceptance as consumers are usually more cautious when buying big-ticket items online.