While tech has revolutionised purchasing in many retail sectors, the car buying process remains entrenched in the past. Can all-digital dealership Rockar – which offers a convenience normally associated with shopping for clothes or food – bring the auto industry up to speed?

Australians bought 1.1 million cars in 2015 – more than ever before. But while drivers were once loyal to home-grown models – like the Ford Falcon or the Holden Commodore – many are now opting for prestige imports, with German cars potentially outselling Aussie ones for the first time this year.

Where once buying a car meant travelling to a dealership and speaking directly with forecourt dwellers, this is changing. It is estimated that at least 2,800 dealerships could disappear in the US alone by 2020. So in 2014, how exactly are people going about purchasing a new set of wheels?

Buying a car is a hassle. Even if you go to a dealership with a good idea of what you’re looking for, it’s not unheard of to find yourself wasting half a day there. But Ford is streamlining the process by taking it online, only asking people to come in-store to pick up the keys.