There is no such thing as eCommerce in the automobile industry. Automotive eBusiness.

My take - all eCommerce is part of eBusiness. Not all eBusiness is eCommerce. If there is a direct financial transaction involved with the electronic process using Internet technologies it is eCommerce. If there is a non-financial transaction with an electronic process using Internet technologies it is eBusiness. Any transaction with an electronic process using Internet technologies is eBusiness. Therefore all eCommerce is eBusiness but not all eBusiness is eCommerce. For example, ordering a book on Amazon.com is eCommerce and eBusiness. Creating a map with directions from your home to the post office on Yahoo.com is eBusiness (no eCommerce involved). There is a lot of confusion surrounding these terms. The confusion is not unlike that surrounding Marketing and Sales. Sales is part of Marketing. Marketing includes other activities, such as Advertising which is not Sales. So there is very little (and I mean a lot of little ) eCommerce going on with vehicle sales. It's all eBusiness. Automotive eBusiness.  To be honest, there's very little eCommerce happening in vehicle parts sales as well at new car dealers. Service? None. Who can honestly say they haven taken payments online for purchases? Don't get me wrong, you have at some point but an insignificant amount compared to overall commerce.   Now if you tell me about some "eCommerce" you've done I will ask to see some receipts. Get it?   I hope this is clear. I get this question often.

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