GITNUXREPORT 2025

Marketing In The Automobile Industry Statistics

Digital marketing drives 60% of auto sales; influencer, video, AR essential.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

55% of automotive companies see increased ROI on personalized marketing campaigns

Statistic 2

55% of automotive companies use customer data platform (CDP) to personalize marketing efforts

Statistic 3

42% of consumers want personalized vehicle recommendations online

Statistic 4

81% of automotive companies use data analytics to improve marketing campaigns

Statistic 5

78% of consumers said they would share their data if they received personalized offers

Statistic 6

88% of automotive marketers believe that omnichannel marketing improves customer experience

Statistic 7

59% of auto brands are investing in data-driven marketing strategies

Statistic 8

68% of consumers say they are more loyal to brands that personalize their online experience

Statistic 9

75% of auto manufacturers tailor advertisements based on user location and behavior

Statistic 10

29% of auto marketers track customer journey analytics to optimize marketing efforts

Statistic 11

70% of automotive buyers research online before visiting a dealership

Statistic 12

85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations

Statistic 13

65% of car buyers are influenced by video reviews

Statistic 14

78% of car buyers use their smartphones during the purchasing process

Statistic 15

84% of consumers have been persuaded to buy a vehicle after watching a video

Statistic 16

64% of auto buyers are more likely to purchase from brands with strong social media presence

Statistic 17

72% of car shoppers want dealership websites to be mobile-friendly

Statistic 18

35% of vehicle sales are influenced by online video content

Statistic 19

90% of new car buyers use multiple digital sources during their research

Statistic 20

38% of consumers are interested in electric vehicle (EV) related digital advertising

Statistic 21

69% of consumers watch car-related videos on YouTube before purchasing

Statistic 22

63% of car buyers say they are more likely to buy from a dealership with a strong online presence

Statistic 23

37% of consumers prefer a virtual showroom experience over traditional dealership visits

Statistic 24

58% of consumers are influenced by social media ads when choosing a vehicle

Statistic 25

54% of auto buyers checked dealership reviews online

Statistic 26

47% of shoppers abandon online car purchases due to poor digital experiences

Statistic 27

54% of potential car buyers are more likely to consider brands that respond quickly to inquiries online

Statistic 28

69% of car buyers spend more time researching online than visiting dealerships

Statistic 29

27% of consumers prefer online car buying with minimal physical interaction

Statistic 30

82% of vehicle searches are mobile-based

Statistic 31

33% of consumers find augmented reality tools helpful during the research phase

Statistic 32

73% of consumers are influenced by online automotive content before purchase

Statistic 33

53% of car buyers are more likely to consider brands with virtual reality showrooms

Statistic 34

71% of automotive marketers believe influencer marketing is effective

Statistic 35

57% of auto brands report improvements in customer engagement via social media campaigns

Statistic 36

72% of automotive brands plan to expand influencer marketing budgets in the next year

Statistic 37

43% of auto brands leverage influencer partnerships to promote new models

Statistic 38

40% of consumers prefer brands that offer virtual test drives

Statistic 39

23% of auto brands use AI-driven chatbots for customer engagement

Statistic 40

66% of consumers prefer brands with augmented reality experiences

Statistic 41

65% of auto brands use virtual reality to showcase new models

Statistic 42

52% of automotive manufacturers use social media for brand awareness

Statistic 43

45% of automotive brands allocate over 20% of their marketing budget to digital channels

Statistic 44

60% of vehicle sales originate from digital advertising

Statistic 45

48% of auto manufacturers plan to increase their investment in digital marketing over the next year

Statistic 46

80% of automotive marketers see a measurable increase in lead generation from content marketing

Statistic 47

44% of automotive marketers find programmatic advertising to be highly effective

Statistic 48

45% of automotive brands have increased ad spend on digital channels over the past year

Slide 1 of 48

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

70% of automotive buyers research online before visiting a dealership
85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations
52% of automotive manufacturers use social media for brand awareness
65% of car buyers are influenced by video reviews
45% of automotive brands allocate over 20% of their marketing budget to digital channels
60% of vehicle sales originate from digital advertising
40% of consumers prefer brands that offer virtual test drives
78% of car buyers use their smartphones during the purchasing process
55% of automotive companies see increased ROI on personalized marketing campaigns
71% of automotive marketers believe influencer marketing is effective
84% of consumers have been persuaded to buy a vehicle after watching a video
64% of auto buyers are more likely to purchase from brands with strong social media presence
23% of auto brands use AI-driven chatbots for customer engagement

In an era where 88% of automotive consumers turn to digital sources before buying, the automotive industry is rapidly revolutionizing its marketing strategies, leveraging everything from social media and video reviews to AI-driven chatbots and virtual showrooms to drive engagement and sales.

Data Utilization and Personalization in Automotive Marketing

55% of automotive companies see increased ROI on personalized marketing campaigns
55% of automotive companies use customer data platform (CDP) to personalize marketing efforts
42% of consumers want personalized vehicle recommendations online
81% of automotive companies use data analytics to improve marketing campaigns
78% of consumers said they would share their data if they received personalized offers
88% of automotive marketers believe that omnichannel marketing improves customer experience
59% of auto brands are investing in data-driven marketing strategies
68% of consumers say they are more loyal to brands that personalize their online experience
75% of auto manufacturers tailor advertisements based on user location and behavior
29% of auto marketers track customer journey analytics to optimize marketing efforts

Data Utilization and Personalization in Automotive Marketing Interpretation

As the auto industry accelerates into a data-driven future, savvy brands are shifting gears toward personalized, omnichannel marketing—proving that when consumers get tailored offers, they’re more likely to stay in the driver’s seat of brand loyalty.

Digital Consumer Behavior and Research Preferences

70% of automotive buyers research online before visiting a dealership
85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations
65% of car buyers are influenced by video reviews
78% of car buyers use their smartphones during the purchasing process
84% of consumers have been persuaded to buy a vehicle after watching a video
64% of auto buyers are more likely to purchase from brands with strong social media presence
72% of car shoppers want dealership websites to be mobile-friendly
35% of vehicle sales are influenced by online video content
90% of new car buyers use multiple digital sources during their research
38% of consumers are interested in electric vehicle (EV) related digital advertising
69% of consumers watch car-related videos on YouTube before purchasing
63% of car buyers say they are more likely to buy from a dealership with a strong online presence
37% of consumers prefer a virtual showroom experience over traditional dealership visits
58% of consumers are influenced by social media ads when choosing a vehicle
54% of auto buyers checked dealership reviews online
47% of shoppers abandon online car purchases due to poor digital experiences
54% of potential car buyers are more likely to consider brands that respond quickly to inquiries online
69% of car buyers spend more time researching online than visiting dealerships
27% of consumers prefer online car buying with minimal physical interaction
82% of vehicle searches are mobile-based
33% of consumers find augmented reality tools helpful during the research phase
73% of consumers are influenced by online automotive content before purchase
53% of car buyers are more likely to consider brands with virtual reality showrooms

Digital Consumer Behavior and Research Preferences Interpretation

In an era where 90% of car buyers fuel their decisions through digital pathways—trusting online reviews as much as friends, scrolling through videos on YouTube, and wielding smartphones during every step—the automotive industry must accelerate its digital transformation or risk becoming a mere pit stop for elusive online consumers.

Influencer Marketing and Social Media Engagement

71% of automotive marketers believe influencer marketing is effective
57% of auto brands report improvements in customer engagement via social media campaigns
72% of automotive brands plan to expand influencer marketing budgets in the next year
43% of auto brands leverage influencer partnerships to promote new models

Influencer Marketing and Social Media Engagement Interpretation

With over two-thirds of automotive marketers heralding influencer marketing as effective and nearly three-quarters planning to boost their budgets, it's clear that social media influencers have shifted from optional accessories to essential drivers in car brand engagement and sales strategies.

Innovative Technologies and Customer Experience

40% of consumers prefer brands that offer virtual test drives
23% of auto brands use AI-driven chatbots for customer engagement
66% of consumers prefer brands with augmented reality experiences
65% of auto brands use virtual reality to showcase new models

Innovative Technologies and Customer Experience Interpretation

With nearly two-thirds of consumers craving immersive virtual experiences and nearly half favoring virtual test drives, auto brands embracing AI, AR, and VR are steering straight into the future of customer engagement, or risk being left in the digital dust.

Online Marketing Strategies and Investment

52% of automotive manufacturers use social media for brand awareness
45% of automotive brands allocate over 20% of their marketing budget to digital channels
60% of vehicle sales originate from digital advertising
48% of auto manufacturers plan to increase their investment in digital marketing over the next year
80% of automotive marketers see a measurable increase in lead generation from content marketing
44% of automotive marketers find programmatic advertising to be highly effective
45% of automotive brands have increased ad spend on digital channels over the past year

Online Marketing Strategies and Investment Interpretation

With nearly half of auto brands dedicating over 20% of their marketing budgets to digital and 60% of sales stemming from online advertising, it's clear that the automotive industry has hit the accelerator on digital marketing, proving that in today’s fast lane, the only way to fuel growth is to double down on pixels instead of paint jobs.