GITNUXREPORT 2025

Marketing In The Automotive Industry Statistics

Digital strategies, personalization, social media, video, AR drive automotive marketing success.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

70% of automotive consumers rely on social media to research their vehicle purchases

Statistic 2

65% of car buyers visit manufacturer websites before making a purchase decision

Statistic 3

Video marketing influences 73% of vehicle buyers in their decision-making process

Statistic 4

45% of consumers prefer personalized marketing messages from automotive brands

Statistic 5

80% of car buyers utilize their smartphones during the research phase

Statistic 6

60% of consumers prioritize eco-friendly features when choosing a vehicle, influencing automotive marketing strategies

Statistic 7

68% of car buyers are more likely to buy from a brand with positive online reviews

Statistic 8

57% of automotive consumers prefer online chat support for inquiries

Statistic 9

70% of car buyers watch online video reviews before purchasing

Statistic 10

45% of automotive prospects engage with a brand on social media before visiting a dealership

Statistic 11

38% of consumers prefer to buy a vehicle through online purchasing platforms

Statistic 12

55% of buyers research vehicle financing options online before visiting a dealership

Statistic 13

Automotive brands that invest in experiential marketing see a 35% increase in brand loyalty

Statistic 14

66% of automotive customers find digital ads helpful in their decision process

Statistic 15

48% of automotive buyers are influenced by online video testimonials

Statistic 16

80% of automotive prospects prefer a seamless digital experience from research to purchase

Statistic 17

60% of car buyers are influenced by online pricing tools and calculators

Statistic 18

73% of automotive consumers watch live streams or interactive content related to vehicles

Statistic 19

42% of automotive customers prefer receiving personalized offers via SMS or messaging apps

Statistic 20

50% of automotive consumers prefer to receive car maintenance reminders via email or app notifications

Statistic 21

78% of automotive consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations

Statistic 22

62% of automotive buyers prefer digitally-enabled test drives or home delivery options

Statistic 23

85% of automotive content consumption occurs on mobile devices

Statistic 24

48% of customers have made a purchase decision influenced by online social proof, including testimonials and reviews

Statistic 25

67% of automotive consumers use online comparison tools to evaluate vehicles

Statistic 26

22% of automotive buyers start their research before the age of 18, indicating early engagement with digital channels

Statistic 27

50% of automotive sales are anticipated to be made online by 2025, reflecting a rapid shift toward digital transactions

Statistic 28

41% of consumers have purchased a vehicle after engaging with virtual reality content

Statistic 29

55% of automotive customers prefer receiving vehicle updates and news via messaging apps

Statistic 30

54% of automotive brand engagement occurs on Instagram

Statistic 31

33% of automotive sales are influenced by YouTube content

Statistic 32

40% of automotive buyers are influenced by influencer marketing

Statistic 33

52% of automotive consumers discover new vehicle models via social media

Statistic 34

55% of automotive marketers believe that TikTok is a valuable platform for reaching younger audiences

Statistic 35

35% of automotive marketers plan to increase investment in influencer collaborations in 2024

Statistic 36

40% of automotive social media content is user-generated, enhancing authenticity and engagement

Statistic 37

85% of automotive marketers plan to increase their social media advertising budgets in the next year

Statistic 38

Automotive industry digital ad spending reached $16 billion in 2023, a 25% increase from 2022

Statistic 39

The average automotive digital ad click-through rate is 0.75%

Statistic 40

Automotive manufacturers that personalize marketing messages see a 20% higher conversion rate

Statistic 41

25% of automotive industry marketing budgets are allocated to digital channels

Statistic 42

22% of automotive marketers measure ROI using digital attribution models

Statistic 43

58% of automotive digital advertisements use retargeting strategies to convert browsers into buyers

Statistic 44

60% of automotive digital ad budgets are allocated to programmatic advertising

Statistic 45

Automotive brands saw a 30% increase in engagement after adopting augmented reality tools in campaigns

Statistic 46

Email marketing campaigns achieve an average open rate of 22% in automotive sector

Statistic 47

Mobile optimization increases automotive website conversions by 29%

Statistic 48

70% of automotive companies plan to deploy AI chatbots to improve customer service

Statistic 49

75% of automotive brands are using virtual showrooms or 3D vehicle visualizations

Statistic 50

Automotive brands with strong mobile app engagement see a 27% higher customer retention rate

Statistic 51

65% of auto brands actively use CRM data to personalize marketing campaigns

Statistic 52

45% of vehicle units sold are influenced by digital marketing efforts

Statistic 53

Automotive brands that leverage data analytics report a 22% increase in marketing ROI

Statistic 54

55% of automotive marketers plan to incorporate more AR/VR experiences in their campaigns

Statistic 55

32% of automotive brands utilize podcasts as part of their content marketing strategy

Statistic 56

Automotive companies that use CRM integration increase customer retention by 15%

Statistic 57

72% of automotive websites include chatbots to assist visitors, rising from 58% in 2021

Statistic 58

Automotive brands that use data-driven marketing see a 20% increase in campaign effectiveness

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Key Highlights

70% of automotive consumers rely on social media to research their vehicle purchases
65% of car buyers visit manufacturer websites before making a purchase decision
Video marketing influences 73% of vehicle buyers in their decision-making process
45% of consumers prefer personalized marketing messages from automotive brands
Automotive brands saw a 30% increase in engagement after adopting augmented reality tools in campaigns
80% of car buyers utilize their smartphones during the research phase
Email marketing campaigns achieve an average open rate of 22% in automotive sector
85% of automotive marketers plan to increase their social media advertising budgets in the next year
60% of consumers prioritize eco-friendly features when choosing a vehicle, influencing automotive marketing strategies
54% of automotive brand engagement occurs on Instagram
Automotive industry digital ad spending reached $16 billion in 2023, a 25% increase from 2022
68% of car buyers are more likely to buy from a brand with positive online reviews
57% of automotive consumers prefer online chat support for inquiries

In an era where 70% of car buyers turn to social media and digital tools to research their next vehicle, automotive marketing is undergoing a transformative shift driven by data-driven strategies, immersive experiences like AR, and personalized digital outreach that boost engagement and sales.

Consumer Behavior and Preferences

70% of automotive consumers rely on social media to research their vehicle purchases
65% of car buyers visit manufacturer websites before making a purchase decision
Video marketing influences 73% of vehicle buyers in their decision-making process
45% of consumers prefer personalized marketing messages from automotive brands
80% of car buyers utilize their smartphones during the research phase
60% of consumers prioritize eco-friendly features when choosing a vehicle, influencing automotive marketing strategies
68% of car buyers are more likely to buy from a brand with positive online reviews
57% of automotive consumers prefer online chat support for inquiries
70% of car buyers watch online video reviews before purchasing
45% of automotive prospects engage with a brand on social media before visiting a dealership
38% of consumers prefer to buy a vehicle through online purchasing platforms
55% of buyers research vehicle financing options online before visiting a dealership
Automotive brands that invest in experiential marketing see a 35% increase in brand loyalty
66% of automotive customers find digital ads helpful in their decision process
48% of automotive buyers are influenced by online video testimonials
80% of automotive prospects prefer a seamless digital experience from research to purchase
60% of car buyers are influenced by online pricing tools and calculators
73% of automotive consumers watch live streams or interactive content related to vehicles
42% of automotive customers prefer receiving personalized offers via SMS or messaging apps
50% of automotive consumers prefer to receive car maintenance reminders via email or app notifications
78% of automotive consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations
62% of automotive buyers prefer digitally-enabled test drives or home delivery options
85% of automotive content consumption occurs on mobile devices
48% of customers have made a purchase decision influenced by online social proof, including testimonials and reviews
67% of automotive consumers use online comparison tools to evaluate vehicles
22% of automotive buyers start their research before the age of 18, indicating early engagement with digital channels
50% of automotive sales are anticipated to be made online by 2025, reflecting a rapid shift toward digital transactions
41% of consumers have purchased a vehicle after engaging with virtual reality content
55% of automotive customers prefer receiving vehicle updates and news via messaging apps

Consumer Behavior and Preferences Interpretation

In an era where 80% of automotive consumers rely on their smartphones for research, 70% turn to social media, and 73% are swayed by videos, the industry must shift gears towards seamless, personalized, and multimedia digital experiences—because today’s car buyers crave not just vehicles, but a turbocharged brand journey that starts online and accelerates into loyalty.

Content and Social Media Influence

54% of automotive brand engagement occurs on Instagram
33% of automotive sales are influenced by YouTube content
40% of automotive buyers are influenced by influencer marketing
52% of automotive consumers discover new vehicle models via social media
55% of automotive marketers believe that TikTok is a valuable platform for reaching younger audiences
35% of automotive marketers plan to increase investment in influencer collaborations in 2024
40% of automotive social media content is user-generated, enhancing authenticity and engagement

Content and Social Media Influence Interpretation

These statistics reveal that in the automotive world, social media isn't just a marketing tool—it's the engine driving consumer discovery, influencer impact, and brand engagement, with platforms like TikTok and Instagram steering the way into a younger, more authentic audience.

Digital Advertising and eCommerce

85% of automotive marketers plan to increase their social media advertising budgets in the next year
Automotive industry digital ad spending reached $16 billion in 2023, a 25% increase from 2022
The average automotive digital ad click-through rate is 0.75%
Automotive manufacturers that personalize marketing messages see a 20% higher conversion rate
25% of automotive industry marketing budgets are allocated to digital channels
22% of automotive marketers measure ROI using digital attribution models
58% of automotive digital advertisements use retargeting strategies to convert browsers into buyers
60% of automotive digital ad budgets are allocated to programmatic advertising

Digital Advertising and eCommerce Interpretation

As automotive marketers rev up their digital engines with a 25% spending surge and 85% planning to boost social media budgets, the race underscores a shift toward personalized, retargeted, and programmatically driven campaigns—fueling expectations of higher conversions amid a modest 0.75% click-through rate.

Digital Engagement and Marketing Strategies

Automotive brands saw a 30% increase in engagement after adopting augmented reality tools in campaigns
Email marketing campaigns achieve an average open rate of 22% in automotive sector
Mobile optimization increases automotive website conversions by 29%
70% of automotive companies plan to deploy AI chatbots to improve customer service
75% of automotive brands are using virtual showrooms or 3D vehicle visualizations
Automotive brands with strong mobile app engagement see a 27% higher customer retention rate
65% of auto brands actively use CRM data to personalize marketing campaigns
45% of vehicle units sold are influenced by digital marketing efforts
Automotive brands that leverage data analytics report a 22% increase in marketing ROI
55% of automotive marketers plan to incorporate more AR/VR experiences in their campaigns
32% of automotive brands utilize podcasts as part of their content marketing strategy
Automotive companies that use CRM integration increase customer retention by 15%
72% of automotive websites include chatbots to assist visitors, rising from 58% in 2021
Automotive brands that use data-driven marketing see a 20% increase in campaign effectiveness

Digital Engagement and Marketing Strategies Interpretation

In an era where digital innovation drives sales and customer loyalty, automotive brands leveraging augmented reality, AI chatbots, and personalized data analytics are not just keeping pace—they’re shifting gears toward a future where immersive experiences and strategic engagement determine who leads the race.