GITNUXREPORT 2025

Marketing In The Car Industry Statistics

Digital strategies drive 68% of car sales, emphasizing personalized, video, and social media marketing.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

65% of car buyers feel more confident in their purchase after viewing personalized online content

Statistic 2

Over 50% of automotive companies use CRM data to tailor their marketing messages

Statistic 3

50% of automotive brands have integrated AI-powered chatbots to assist online shoppers

Statistic 4

68% of car buyers conduct online research before visiting a dealership

Statistic 5

70% of car buyers are influenced by online reviews and ratings

Statistic 6

60% of automotive buyers prefer browsing on mobile devices

Statistic 7

54% of consumers say they are more likely to visit a dealership that offers virtual tours or online car walkthroughs

Statistic 8

48% of potential car buyers use online chat or messaging to interact with dealerships

Statistic 9

55% of consumers would like to see more augmented reality features in car marketing

Statistic 10

72% of car buyers who use online tools report higher satisfaction with their purchasing experience

Statistic 11

58% of car buyers prefer digital first interactions such as online booking or virtual consultations

Statistic 12

90% of automotive consumers use a smartphone during their car buying journey

Statistic 13

49% of new car buyers discover their vehicle through paid digital ads

Statistic 14

85% of consumers want to see live inventory updates when shopping for a car online

Statistic 15

76% of car buyers are willing to share their data for better personalized experiences

Statistic 16

44% of automotive consumers prefer to book service appointments online

Statistic 17

35% of car buyers prefer receiving promotional offers via push notifications

Statistic 18

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

Statistic 19

41% of car buyers are more likely to visit a dealership that offers virtual reality test drives

Statistic 20

47% of car buyers are influenced more by online content than traditional advertising

Statistic 21

65% of consumers research multiple brands online before making a purchase decision

Statistic 22

55% of automotive consumers prefer video reviews over written reviews

Statistic 23

61% of auto buyers are more likely to consider a dealership that provides online financing options

Statistic 24

90% of millennials consider online reviews as crucial in their vehicle purchase decisions

Statistic 25

51% of car buyers use online configurators to customize their vehicles before contacting a dealer

Statistic 26

38% of car buyers prefer to receive digital brochures and catalogs

Statistic 27

52% of car manufacturers allocate over 15% of their marketing budget to digital marketing efforts

Statistic 28

43% of consumers prefer personalized marketing messages when shopping for a vehicle

Statistic 29

45% of car dealerships use social media platforms as their primary marketing channel

Statistic 30

drip marketing campaigns result in a 73% higher conversion rate for automotive leads

Statistic 31

38% of automotive marketers see increased lead quality when using targeted digital advertising

Statistic 32

40% of automotive brands plan to increase their digital advertising spend by at least 20% in the next year

Statistic 33

67% of automotive marketers consider lead generation as their top digital marketing priority

Statistic 34

30% of car dealerships report that online marketing efforts directly resulted in more sales

Statistic 35

Email marketing campaigns for automotive offers have a 4.3% average open rate

Statistic 36

62% of automotive marketers increased their use of video advertising over the last year

Statistic 37

Customer retention campaigns in auto marketing boost repeat purchases by 20%

Statistic 38

69% of automotive dealerships reported increased foot traffic after implementing digital marketing strategies

Statistic 39

80% of automotive marketers feel that their digital marketing efforts have improved lead quality

Statistic 40

74% of auto brands consider mobile optimization as critical for their marketing success

Statistic 41

42% of car dealerships use data analytics to improve their marketing campaigns

Statistic 42

32% of automotive marketers plan to increase their investment in AR/VR technology in the next year

Statistic 43

69% of automotive brands leverage email marketing to nurture leads

Statistic 44

Video content accounts for 78% of all car-related online content engagement

Statistic 45

36% of consumers watch automotive video content weekly

Statistic 46

Automotive brands investing heavily in influencer marketing see 11 times higher ROI than traditional advertising

Statistic 47

73% of automotive marketers see measurable ROI from social media campaigns

Statistic 48

78% of automotive consumers are influenced by social media posts when considering a dealership

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Key Highlights

68% of car buyers conduct online research before visiting a dealership
52% of car manufacturers allocate over 15% of their marketing budget to digital marketing efforts
43% of consumers prefer personalized marketing messages when shopping for a vehicle
Video content accounts for 78% of all car-related online content engagement
70% of car buyers are influenced by online reviews and ratings
60% of automotive buyers prefer browsing on mobile devices
45% of car dealerships use social media platforms as their primary marketing channel
54% of consumers say they are more likely to visit a dealership that offers virtual tours or online car walkthroughs
Automotive brands investing heavily in influencer marketing see 11 times higher ROI than traditional advertising
48% of potential car buyers use online chat or messaging to interact with dealerships
drip marketing campaigns result in a 73% higher conversion rate for automotive leads
65% of car buyers feel more confident in their purchase after viewing personalized online content
38% of automotive marketers see increased lead quality when using targeted digital advertising

In a rapidly digitalizing auto industry where 68% of buyers start their journey online and 78% engage with video content, marketers are turbocharging their strategies—investing heavily in personalization, social media, virtual tours, and influencer campaigns—to drive sales and stay ahead in the competitive race.

Customer Insights and Brand Confidence

65% of car buyers feel more confident in their purchase after viewing personalized online content
Over 50% of automotive companies use CRM data to tailor their marketing messages
50% of automotive brands have integrated AI-powered chatbots to assist online shoppers

Customer Insights and Brand Confidence Interpretation

With over half of automotive brands leveraging CRM data and AI chatbots, and a striking 65% of buyers feeling more confident through personalized content, the car industry is shifting gears towards a digital, customer-centric highway where tailored experiences drive both trust and sales.

Digital Consumer Behavior and Preferences

68% of car buyers conduct online research before visiting a dealership
70% of car buyers are influenced by online reviews and ratings
60% of automotive buyers prefer browsing on mobile devices
54% of consumers say they are more likely to visit a dealership that offers virtual tours or online car walkthroughs
48% of potential car buyers use online chat or messaging to interact with dealerships
55% of consumers would like to see more augmented reality features in car marketing
72% of car buyers who use online tools report higher satisfaction with their purchasing experience
58% of car buyers prefer digital first interactions such as online booking or virtual consultations
90% of automotive consumers use a smartphone during their car buying journey
49% of new car buyers discover their vehicle through paid digital ads
85% of consumers want to see live inventory updates when shopping for a car online
76% of car buyers are willing to share their data for better personalized experiences
44% of automotive consumers prefer to book service appointments online
35% of car buyers prefer receiving promotional offers via push notifications
58% of consumers are influenced by social media ads when considering a vehicle purchase
41% of car buyers are more likely to visit a dealership that offers virtual reality test drives
47% of car buyers are influenced more by online content than traditional advertising
65% of consumers research multiple brands online before making a purchase decision
55% of automotive consumers prefer video reviews over written reviews
61% of auto buyers are more likely to consider a dealership that provides online financing options
90% of millennials consider online reviews as crucial in their vehicle purchase decisions
51% of car buyers use online configurators to customize their vehicles before contacting a dealer
38% of car buyers prefer to receive digital brochures and catalogs

Digital Consumer Behavior and Preferences Interpretation

With over two-thirds of buyers fueling their car choices through online research and 90% of Millennials weighing digital reviews heavily, the era of showroom-based shopping is evolving into a high-tech, virtual test drive—making it clear that if your dealership isn't online and interactive, you're effectively stuck in park.

Marketing Strategies and Technologies

52% of car manufacturers allocate over 15% of their marketing budget to digital marketing efforts
43% of consumers prefer personalized marketing messages when shopping for a vehicle
45% of car dealerships use social media platforms as their primary marketing channel
drip marketing campaigns result in a 73% higher conversion rate for automotive leads
38% of automotive marketers see increased lead quality when using targeted digital advertising
40% of automotive brands plan to increase their digital advertising spend by at least 20% in the next year
67% of automotive marketers consider lead generation as their top digital marketing priority
30% of car dealerships report that online marketing efforts directly resulted in more sales
Email marketing campaigns for automotive offers have a 4.3% average open rate
62% of automotive marketers increased their use of video advertising over the last year
Customer retention campaigns in auto marketing boost repeat purchases by 20%
69% of automotive dealerships reported increased foot traffic after implementing digital marketing strategies
80% of automotive marketers feel that their digital marketing efforts have improved lead quality
74% of auto brands consider mobile optimization as critical for their marketing success
42% of car dealerships use data analytics to improve their marketing campaigns
32% of automotive marketers plan to increase their investment in AR/VR technology in the next year
69% of automotive brands leverage email marketing to nurture leads

Marketing Strategies and Technologies Interpretation

In an industry racing toward digital dominance, over half of car manufacturers dedicate more than 15% of their marketing budget to online efforts, with personalized messages and social media taking the wheel—yet, despite impressive strides like a 73% boost in lead conversions through drip campaigns and a 20% increase in repeat customer purchases, only 30% of dealerships link online marketing directly to sales, reminding us that in the fast lane of automotive marketing, embracing innovation is crucial before the competition leaves you in the rearview mirror.

Online Engagement and Content Consumption

Video content accounts for 78% of all car-related online content engagement
36% of consumers watch automotive video content weekly

Online Engagement and Content Consumption Interpretation

With over three-quarters of car-related online engagement rooted in video and more than a third of consumers tuning in weekly, automakers are revving up their engines to prioritize video content as the ultimate driver of consumer connection and sales.

Social Media and Influencer Impact

Automotive brands investing heavily in influencer marketing see 11 times higher ROI than traditional advertising
73% of automotive marketers see measurable ROI from social media campaigns
78% of automotive consumers are influenced by social media posts when considering a dealership

Social Media and Influencer Impact Interpretation

With 78% of consumers swayed by social media and automotive brands reaping 11 times the ROI through influencer marketing, it's clear that in the car industry, perhaps the best drive toward profit is through the driver’s seat of social media.