The challenge: Breaking into a market with 80% incumbent control

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When YesAuto, an online automotive platform, looked to expand into the UK and Germany, the path in was narrow. Incumbent platforms controlled roughly 80% of the market, brand awareness for YesAuto was minimal among local car buyers, and the cost of competing for paid search and app store visibility against established names was high.

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The brief was clear: build awareness fast, earn trust with local dealers, and convert that trust into app downloads, all without the brand recognition that competitors had spent years cultivating.

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The approach: combining immersive tech with local credibility

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We built a strategy around four pillars, each designed to address a specific barrier to entry.

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Virtual reality car exhibitions

With showroom visits limited by pandemic restrictions, we launched immersive virtual exhibitions with VR360 technology that let prospective buyers explore vehicles in detail from home.

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Strategic dealer partnerships

We brought more than 6,500 local dealerships onto the platform's dealer network, giving YesAuto immediate inventory depth and local credibility, two attributes that are difficult for a new entrant to manufacture from paid media alone.

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Tech-driven marketing

We ran a multi-channel campaign anchored in key opinion leader (KOL) collaborations and user-generated content across multiple channels. The mix was designed to seed organic discussion and lower the cost of paid acquisition over time.

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Localising positioning and messaging

We differentiated YesAuto's positioning to address online car buying pain points, such as difficulties in finding trusted dealers and viewing cars.

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The results

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By combining digital innovation with local expertise, we helped YesAuto establish a strong presence and secure its position in the UK and German markets:

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• 3M+ unique visitors to the official website
• UK app downloads 3.2x higher than comparable apps

By pairing digital innovation with on-the-ground partnerships, YesAuto moved from unknown entrant to a credible challenger in two of Europe's most competitive automotive markets.

Looking to break into new markets? Speak to our team about our cross-border market entry services.

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