Photo credit: Alibaba Group

Fancy a new set of wheels? A recent update by Taobao means test drives are just a click away for Chinese consumers, who can now experience driving an electric sedan from their sofas using an Apple Vision Pro headset.

The latest version of the e-commerce marketplace’s app for the headset allows users to virtually sit in the driver’s seat of a Xiaomi SU7 and accelerate to speeds of 140 mph.

Taobao and Xiaomi Auto, a subsidiary of Chinese consumer electronics company Xiaomi, jointly developed the extended-reality experience, which is the first virtual test drive product in the world available for consumer use.

“After experiencing [the feature] in person, users will have a more comprehensive understanding of this immersive virtual test drive built with cutting-edge technology,” said Huang Jiaru, intelligent product manager at Xiaomi Auto, in a statement.

The release of Taobao Apple Vision Pro 3.0 on Sept. 10 marks the application’s second update this summer and comes as the e-commerce platform focuses on providing an enriched shopping experience.

Using the latest version, shoppers can learn about the Xiaomi SU7 in three ways.

The car first appears to headset wearers on a panoramic large screen, giving them the opportunity to examine its outside appearance in a range of colors and in a variety of settings.

Users can try the mixed-reality mode to get a better sense of proportion and scale, enabling them to see how the car will look in their garage or driveway.

Itching to get behind the wheel? Then the virtual-reality mode is for you. Consumers can “sit” in the car and soak up details from the smooth texture of the seats to the interior’s ambient lighting effects.

“Good products and experiences speak for themselves,” Xiaomi’s Huang noted – and Taobao Apple Vision Pro 3.0 allows the SU7 to do just that.

A New Shopping Experience

Beyond cars, the latest Taobao Apple Vision Pro app is transforming shopping experiences across categories including makeup, homewares and consumer tech.

Consumers can “pick up” lipsticks from MAC Cosmetics and try out an assortment of berry hues, or try their hand at virtually redecorating their living spaces with appliances from Midea’s COLMO range.

Shoppers can see DJI drones hovering in the air in front of them and even test the bass of Harman audio products.

These use cases are part and parcel of a wider shift towards “experience e-commerce,” according to Zhao Kun, head of Taobao’s XR business.

Under this model, extended-reality technologies and equipment will help deliver better transaction efficiency and emotional value, he explained.

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