GITNUXREPORT 2026

Marketing In The Car Industry Statistics

Digital marketing now drives most car sales, shifting from traditional ads to online research.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

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Statistic 1

Global ad spend on TV for cars reached $12.5 billion in 2023, 22% of total budget.

Statistic 2

Super Bowl auto ads in 2023 generated $800 million in earned media value.

Statistic 3

Digital ad spend overtook traditional at 52% of $25 billion total in 2023.

Statistic 4

OOH billboards for EVs yielded 4:1 ROI in urban markets per 2023 data.

Statistic 5

Print ads in magazines still captured 8% of budget, $2 billion in 2023.

Statistic 6

Radio spots during drive-time increased dealership visits by 18%, cost $1.2B.

Statistic 7

Direct mail coupons redeemed at 5.2% rate, generating $450M sales.

Statistic 8

Sponsorships of sports events returned 3.5:1 ROI for luxury brands.

Statistic 9

Programmatic TV ads improved targeting, cutting costs 25% in 2023.

Statistic 10

Cinema ads pre-movie reached 15 million viewers, 28% brand lift.

Statistic 11

Newspaper inserts drove 12% of local sales leads at $0.50 CPC equivalent.

Statistic 12

Trade show booths cost averaged $250k per event, 6:1 lead ROI.

Statistic 13

Email ROI hit 42:1 for personalized newsletters in auto sector.

Statistic 14

TV ad GRPs for cars hit 250 avg in 2023.

Statistic 15

CTV streaming ads grew 38% to $3B spend.

Statistic 16

Billboard ROI measured at 397% for highway placements.

Statistic 17

Magazine ad recall 22% higher for full-page spreads.

Statistic 18

Podcast ad downloads led to 9% purchase intent lift.

Statistic 19

Event sponsorships like CES generated 500k leads.

Statistic 20

SMS campaigns achieved 98% open rate, 8% response.

Statistic 21

Influencer ROI averaged 11.5:1 vs 5.8:1 traditional.

Statistic 22

DOOH digital billboards clicked 15% interaction rate.

Statistic 23

Newspaper digital editions ad revenue up 12%.

Statistic 24

74% of car buyers influenced by word-of-mouth recommendations in 2023.

Statistic 25

EV interest surged to 41% among under-35s, up 15% YoY in 2023.

Statistic 26

82% prioritize safety features in purchase decisions per 2023 surveys.

Statistic 27

Subscription models appealed to 35% of urban millennials in 2023.

Statistic 28

56% of buyers test-drove 3+ vehicles before purchase in 2023.

Statistic 29

Fuel efficiency ranked #2 after price for 67% of respondents.

Statistic 30

Online reviews swayed 88% of decisions, average 4.2 stars needed.

Statistic 31

Women now 52% of new car buyers, focusing on tech features.

Statistic 32

65% delay purchase due to economic uncertainty in 2023 polls.

Statistic 33

Connected car features valued by 70% of luxury segment buyers.

Statistic 34

49% prefer leasing over buying amid high interest rates.

Statistic 35

Brand loyalty at 48%, down from 60% pre-pandemic.

Statistic 36

91% use dealer websites, 40% complete financing online.

Statistic 37

Sustainability influences 55% of purchases, highest for hybrids.

Statistic 38

Average time to purchase: 86 days, up 12% YoY.

Statistic 39

60% of new car buyers aged 18-34, prioritizing tech.

Statistic 40

93% read online reviews, 4+ stars critical threshold.

Statistic 41

Hybrids outsold full EVs 2:1 due to range anxiety.

Statistic 42

71% influenced by financing options and rates.

Statistic 43

Trade-ins valued at avg $25k, 80% of buyers trade.

Statistic 44

SUVs 55% market share, up from 48% in 2020.

Statistic 45

42% consider used cars first amid inflation.

Statistic 46

Warranty length sways 58% of mid-market buyers.

Statistic 47

Mobile payments used by 45% at purchase.

Statistic 48

Peer recommendations top ads at 92% trust level.

Statistic 49

In 2023, 68% of car buyers researched vehicles online before visiting a dealership, with search engines driving 45% of initial discoveries.

Statistic 50

Video content on automotive websites increased conversion rates by 80% for luxury car brands in 2022.

Statistic 51

72% of millennials prefer interactive 360-degree virtual tours for car shopping, boosting engagement by 34%.

Statistic 52

Email marketing campaigns for car dealerships achieved a 29% open rate in 2023, 3x higher than industry average.

Statistic 53

SEO-optimized content led to a 150% increase in organic traffic for top 10 automakers' sites in Q4 2023.

Statistic 54

Pay-per-click ads on Google for car models yielded a 12:1 ROI for dealerships in 2023.

Statistic 55

Mobile-optimized landing pages improved car inquiry rates by 55% among Gen Z users in 2023.

Statistic 56

Retargeting display ads recovered 23% of abandoned car configurator sessions in 2022.

Statistic 57

81% of car shoppers use smartphones for price comparisons, influencing 40% of final purchases.

Statistic 58

Programmatic advertising spend in auto industry grew 25% YoY to $4.2 billion in 2023.

Statistic 59

Personalized dynamic ads increased click-through rates by 42% for SUV campaigns in 2023.

Statistic 60

Voice search optimization captured 15% of car-related queries on Alexa and Google Home in 2023.

Statistic 61

AR try-on features for car customizations boosted purchase intent by 67% in pilot tests.

Statistic 62

Native advertising on auto review sites drove 28% more qualified leads than banners.

Statistic 63

Affiliate marketing partnerships generated $1.8 billion in referrals for car brands in 2023.

Statistic 64

Digital natives (Gen Z) 78% start search on social platforms.

Statistic 65

360-video tours reduced bounce rates by 40% on OEM sites.

Statistic 66

Google Ads for "best family SUV" clicked 2.1M times monthly.

Statistic 67

Chatbots handled 65% of initial inquiries, saving 30% staff time.

Statistic 68

Geofencing ads near competitors captured 15% cross-shoppers.

Statistic 69

Content marketing blogs ranked #1 for 52% of organic leads.

Statistic 70

VR showroom experiences increased bookings by 50% in 2023 pilots.

Statistic 71

Amazon DSP auto campaigns hit 18% ROAS for accessories.

Statistic 72

Local SEO for dealerships boosted map pack visibility 75%.

Statistic 73

Top automotive influencers on Instagram have 15 million average followers, 28% engagement.

Statistic 74

62% of car buyers trust influencer reviews more than brand ads in 2023 surveys.

Statistic 75

Tesla's influencer partnerships generated $500 million in earned media in 2023.

Statistic 76

Micro-influencers (10k-50k followers) drove 3x more conversions for budget cars.

Statistic 77

Co-branded events with influencers boosted ticket sales by 40% for auto shows.

Statistic 78

45% of Gen Z discovered new car models via influencer TikToks in 2023.

Statistic 79

Partnership deals with gaming influencers reached 20 million gamers for racing sims.

Statistic 80

Celebrity endorsements like Ryan Reynolds for Mint Mobile-Auto tie-ins lifted brand recall 55%.

Statistic 81

Affiliate influencer commissions averaged 15% of sales for accessory partnerships.

Statistic 82

Sponsored podcasts with auto experts achieved 32% listener retention boost.

Statistic 83

Collaborations with lifestyle bloggers increased female buyer inquiries by 38%.

Statistic 84

Esports sponsorships with influencers generated 2.5x ROI for performance cars.

Statistic 85

Nano-influencers in local markets drove 22% foot traffic to dealerships.

Statistic 86

Joint campaigns with travel influencers promoted SUVs with 1.2 billion impressions.

Statistic 87

Kim Kardashian's Mercedes post reached 100M, 12% uplift.

Statistic 88

78% of influencers disclose sponsorships in auto content.

Statistic 89

Gaming streamer partnerships for Forza Horizon 7M views.

Statistic 90

Podcaster Joe Rogan EV discussion 10M downloads impact.

Statistic 91

Fitness influencers promoting trucks 35% male conversion.

Statistic 92

Beauty influencers in luxury convertibles 28% aspirational sales.

Statistic 93

Chef collabs for road trip recipes 1.5M engagements.

Statistic 94

Music artist vehicle giveaways viral 50M impressions.

Statistic 95

Travel vloggers SUV reviews 40% booking influence.

Statistic 96

Tech reviewers iPhone integration tests 2x sales.

Statistic 97

Local mommy bloggers minivan endorsements 18% family leads.

Statistic 98

55% of Instagram users aged 18-34 engage with car brand reels daily, per 2023 data.

Statistic 99

TikTok automotive challenges amassed 2.5 billion views in 2023, driving 18% traffic uplift.

Statistic 100

Facebook Live test drives reached 10 million views for Ford in Q3 2023, +35% sales leads.

Statistic 101

Twitter polls on EV features influenced 22% of buyer preferences in 2023 surveys.

Statistic 102

LinkedIn B2B campaigns for fleet sales achieved 16% engagement rate in 2023.

Statistic 103

YouTube pre-roll ads for car launches averaged 25% view-through rate in 2023.

Statistic 104

Pinterest car inspiration boards drove 30% of luxury vehicle inquiries from women.

Statistic 105

Snapchat AR lenses for car filters garnered 500 million impressions for BMW in 2023.

Statistic 106

User-generated content on Instagram boosted brand trust by 49% among Gen Z in 2023.

Statistic 107

Reddit AMAs with car executives generated 1.2 million interactions in 2023.

Statistic 108

Social listening tools identified 75% of emerging trends before market shifts in 2023.

Statistic 109

Hashtag campaigns like #DriveElectric trended with 1.8 billion impressions on TikTok.

Statistic 110

Facebook Groups for car enthusiasts converted 12% of members to test drives.

Statistic 111

Influencer collaborations on YouTube yielded 5x higher ROI than traditional ads for EVs.

Statistic 112

LinkedIn video series on autonomous tech reached 4 million professionals in 2023.

Statistic 113

Facebook lead ads converted at 14.2% for test drives.

Statistic 114

#CarTok videos averaged 1M views, 25% shoppable links.

Statistic 115

Instagram shoppable posts drove $300M in direct sales.

Statistic 116

Twitter Spaces for Q&A sessions engaged 50k listeners avg.

Statistic 117

LinkedIn ads to C-suite yielded 22% B2B inquiry rate.

Statistic 118

YouTube Shorts for quick tips gained 40% subscriber growth.

Statistic 119

Pinterest video pins increased traffic 33% for models.

Statistic 120

Snapchat geo-filters at dealerships boosted visits 20%.

Statistic 121

UGC reposts on social lifted engagement 60%.

Statistic 122

Reddit sponsored posts in r/cars hit 95% positive sentiment.

Statistic 123

Social commerce sales for cars up 45% to $1.1B.

Statistic 124

Live streaming sales events sold 5k units in 2023.

1/124

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The road to a new car now begins with a Google search for most shoppers, revealing that digital savvy has become as crucial as horsepower in the automotive world.

Key Takeaways

In 2023, 68% of car buyers researched vehicles online before visiting a dealership, with search engines driving 45% of initial discoveries.
Video content on automotive websites increased conversion rates by 80% for luxury car brands in 2022.
72% of millennials prefer interactive 360-degree virtual tours for car shopping, boosting engagement by 34%.
55% of Instagram users aged 18-34 engage with car brand reels daily, per 2023 data.
TikTok automotive challenges amassed 2.5 billion views in 2023, driving 18% traffic uplift.
Facebook Live test drives reached 10 million views for Ford in Q3 2023, +35% sales leads.
Top automotive influencers on Instagram have 15 million average followers, 28% engagement.
62% of car buyers trust influencer reviews more than brand ads in 2023 surveys.
Tesla's influencer partnerships generated $500 million in earned media in 2023.
Global ad spend on TV for cars reached $12.5 billion in 2023, 22% of total budget.
Super Bowl auto ads in 2023 generated $800 million in earned media value.
Digital ad spend overtook traditional at 52% of $25 billion total in 2023.
74% of car buyers influenced by word-of-mouth recommendations in 2023.
EV interest surged to 41% among under-35s, up 15% YoY in 2023.
82% prioritize safety features in purchase decisions per 2023 surveys.

Digital marketing now drives most car sales, shifting from traditional ads to online research.

Advertising Expenditure and ROI

Global ad spend on TV for cars reached $12.5 billion in 2023, 22% of total budget.
Super Bowl auto ads in 2023 generated $800 million in earned media value.
Digital ad spend overtook traditional at 52% of $25 billion total in 2023.
OOH billboards for EVs yielded 4:1 ROI in urban markets per 2023 data.
Print ads in magazines still captured 8% of budget, $2 billion in 2023.
Radio spots during drive-time increased dealership visits by 18%, cost $1.2B.
Direct mail coupons redeemed at 5.2% rate, generating $450M sales.
Sponsorships of sports events returned 3.5:1 ROI for luxury brands.
Programmatic TV ads improved targeting, cutting costs 25% in 2023.
Cinema ads pre-movie reached 15 million viewers, 28% brand lift.
Newspaper inserts drove 12% of local sales leads at $0.50 CPC equivalent.
Trade show booths cost averaged $250k per event, 6:1 lead ROI.
Email ROI hit 42:1 for personalized newsletters in auto sector.
TV ad GRPs for cars hit 250 avg in 2023.
CTV streaming ads grew 38% to $3B spend.
Billboard ROI measured at 397% for highway placements.
Magazine ad recall 22% higher for full-page spreads.
Podcast ad downloads led to 9% purchase intent lift.
Event sponsorships like CES generated 500k leads.
SMS campaigns achieved 98% open rate, 8% response.
Influencer ROI averaged 11.5:1 vs 5.8:1 traditional.
DOOH digital billboards clicked 15% interaction rate.
Newspaper digital editions ad revenue up 12%.

Advertising Expenditure and ROI Interpretation

The car industry's marketing strategy has a charming split personality, gleefully writing checks for glitzy Super Bowl spots while its digital self quietly hoards the data and ROI, proving that whether it's a highway billboard or a hyper-targeted email, the right message in the right lane still closes the deal.

Consumer Behavior and Trends

74% of car buyers influenced by word-of-mouth recommendations in 2023.
EV interest surged to 41% among under-35s, up 15% YoY in 2023.
82% prioritize safety features in purchase decisions per 2023 surveys.
Subscription models appealed to 35% of urban millennials in 2023.
56% of buyers test-drove 3+ vehicles before purchase in 2023.
Fuel efficiency ranked #2 after price for 67% of respondents.
Online reviews swayed 88% of decisions, average 4.2 stars needed.
Women now 52% of new car buyers, focusing on tech features.
65% delay purchase due to economic uncertainty in 2023 polls.
Connected car features valued by 70% of luxury segment buyers.
49% prefer leasing over buying amid high interest rates.
Brand loyalty at 48%, down from 60% pre-pandemic.
91% use dealer websites, 40% complete financing online.
Sustainability influences 55% of purchases, highest for hybrids.
Average time to purchase: 86 days, up 12% YoY.
60% of new car buyers aged 18-34, prioritizing tech.
93% read online reviews, 4+ stars critical threshold.
Hybrids outsold full EVs 2:1 due to range anxiety.
71% influenced by financing options and rates.
Trade-ins valued at avg $25k, 80% of buyers trade.
SUVs 55% market share, up from 48% in 2020.
42% consider used cars first amid inflation.
Warranty length sways 58% of mid-market buyers.
Mobile payments used by 45% at purchase.
Peer recommendations top ads at 92% trust level.

Consumer Behavior and Trends Interpretation

In today's car market, the customer journey is a high-stakes digital and social odyssey where a trusted friend's recommendation, online reviews, and favorable financing can steer a buyer—currently leaning toward SUVs and hybrids while eyeing safety and tech—away from your brand just as easily as they can seal the deal.

Digital Marketing

In 2023, 68% of car buyers researched vehicles online before visiting a dealership, with search engines driving 45% of initial discoveries.
Video content on automotive websites increased conversion rates by 80% for luxury car brands in 2022.
72% of millennials prefer interactive 360-degree virtual tours for car shopping, boosting engagement by 34%.
Email marketing campaigns for car dealerships achieved a 29% open rate in 2023, 3x higher than industry average.
SEO-optimized content led to a 150% increase in organic traffic for top 10 automakers' sites in Q4 2023.
Pay-per-click ads on Google for car models yielded a 12:1 ROI for dealerships in 2023.
Mobile-optimized landing pages improved car inquiry rates by 55% among Gen Z users in 2023.
Retargeting display ads recovered 23% of abandoned car configurator sessions in 2022.
81% of car shoppers use smartphones for price comparisons, influencing 40% of final purchases.
Programmatic advertising spend in auto industry grew 25% YoY to $4.2 billion in 2023.
Personalized dynamic ads increased click-through rates by 42% for SUV campaigns in 2023.
Voice search optimization captured 15% of car-related queries on Alexa and Google Home in 2023.
AR try-on features for car customizations boosted purchase intent by 67% in pilot tests.
Native advertising on auto review sites drove 28% more qualified leads than banners.
Affiliate marketing partnerships generated $1.8 billion in referrals for car brands in 2023.
Digital natives (Gen Z) 78% start search on social platforms.
360-video tours reduced bounce rates by 40% on OEM sites.
Google Ads for "best family SUV" clicked 2.1M times monthly.
Chatbots handled 65% of initial inquiries, saving 30% staff time.
Geofencing ads near competitors captured 15% cross-shoppers.
Content marketing blogs ranked #1 for 52% of organic leads.
VR showroom experiences increased bookings by 50% in 2023 pilots.
Amazon DSP auto campaigns hit 18% ROAS for accessories.
Local SEO for dealerships boosted map pack visibility 75%.

Digital Marketing Interpretation

In 2023, the road to a sale was paved with digital intent, where a car buyer's journey began not on a lot but in a search bar, was validated through video and virtual tours, and was decisively influenced by the smartphone in their pocket, proving that the modern dealership must be an omnipresent, helpful, and highly targeted digital showroom first.

Influencer and Partnership Marketing

Top automotive influencers on Instagram have 15 million average followers, 28% engagement.
62% of car buyers trust influencer reviews more than brand ads in 2023 surveys.
Tesla's influencer partnerships generated $500 million in earned media in 2023.
Micro-influencers (10k-50k followers) drove 3x more conversions for budget cars.
Co-branded events with influencers boosted ticket sales by 40% for auto shows.
45% of Gen Z discovered new car models via influencer TikToks in 2023.
Partnership deals with gaming influencers reached 20 million gamers for racing sims.
Celebrity endorsements like Ryan Reynolds for Mint Mobile-Auto tie-ins lifted brand recall 55%.
Affiliate influencer commissions averaged 15% of sales for accessory partnerships.
Sponsored podcasts with auto experts achieved 32% listener retention boost.
Collaborations with lifestyle bloggers increased female buyer inquiries by 38%.
Esports sponsorships with influencers generated 2.5x ROI for performance cars.
Nano-influencers in local markets drove 22% foot traffic to dealerships.
Joint campaigns with travel influencers promoted SUVs with 1.2 billion impressions.
Kim Kardashian's Mercedes post reached 100M, 12% uplift.
78% of influencers disclose sponsorships in auto content.
Gaming streamer partnerships for Forza Horizon 7M views.
Podcaster Joe Rogan EV discussion 10M downloads impact.
Fitness influencers promoting trucks 35% male conversion.
Beauty influencers in luxury convertibles 28% aspirational sales.
Chef collabs for road trip recipes 1.5M engagements.
Music artist vehicle giveaways viral 50M impressions.
Travel vloggers SUV reviews 40% booking influence.
Tech reviewers iPhone integration tests 2x sales.
Local mommy bloggers minivan endorsements 18% family leads.

Influencer and Partnership Marketing Interpretation

The statistics reveal that in the car industry, the road to a customer's heart is no longer paved with traditional ads but is instead being joyfully commandeered by a diverse convoy of influencers, from gamers to moms, who hold the genuine trust and attention that directly drives sales, traffic, and staggering media value.

Social Media Marketing

55% of Instagram users aged 18-34 engage with car brand reels daily, per 2023 data.
TikTok automotive challenges amassed 2.5 billion views in 2023, driving 18% traffic uplift.
Facebook Live test drives reached 10 million views for Ford in Q3 2023, +35% sales leads.
Twitter polls on EV features influenced 22% of buyer preferences in 2023 surveys.
LinkedIn B2B campaigns for fleet sales achieved 16% engagement rate in 2023.
YouTube pre-roll ads for car launches averaged 25% view-through rate in 2023.
Pinterest car inspiration boards drove 30% of luxury vehicle inquiries from women.
Snapchat AR lenses for car filters garnered 500 million impressions for BMW in 2023.
User-generated content on Instagram boosted brand trust by 49% among Gen Z in 2023.
Reddit AMAs with car executives generated 1.2 million interactions in 2023.
Social listening tools identified 75% of emerging trends before market shifts in 2023.
Hashtag campaigns like #DriveElectric trended with 1.8 billion impressions on TikTok.
Facebook Groups for car enthusiasts converted 12% of members to test drives.
Influencer collaborations on YouTube yielded 5x higher ROI than traditional ads for EVs.
LinkedIn video series on autonomous tech reached 4 million professionals in 2023.
Facebook lead ads converted at 14.2% for test drives.
#CarTok videos averaged 1M views, 25% shoppable links.
Instagram shoppable posts drove $300M in direct sales.
Twitter Spaces for Q&A sessions engaged 50k listeners avg.
LinkedIn ads to C-suite yielded 22% B2B inquiry rate.
YouTube Shorts for quick tips gained 40% subscriber growth.
Pinterest video pins increased traffic 33% for models.
Snapchat geo-filters at dealerships boosted visits 20%.
UGC reposts on social lifted engagement 60%.
Reddit sponsored posts in r/cars hit 95% positive sentiment.
Social commerce sales for cars up 45% to $1.1B.
Live streaming sales events sold 5k units in 2023.

Social Media Marketing Interpretation

Gen Z is essentially buying cars from their phones now, so if you're not crafting clever TikToks and interactive Instagram reels while whispering sweet nothings about EVs into LinkedIn feeds, your dealership might as well be a museum.