Web Puts Shoppers In The Driver's Seat

An overwhelming majority of European car buyers turn to the Net for information and research.

Car shoppers are cruising in the fast lane, using the Internet to help them make informed decisions. According to Cospirit Research, nearly three-quarters (72 percent) said that the medium helped them to make their final decision, and 82 percent said that the Internet reassured them about their choice.

The data comes as a result of a December 2002 online survey of 2,700 Internet users across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, of new and used vehicle buyers, and the findings indicate an increasing reliance on the Web for research and purchases.

The survey revealed that more than half (58 percent) of respondents have discovered new models on the Internet, and more than three-quarters (79 percent) of buyers agree that the Internet saves them time and speeds up their purchase. Of Internet users in the UK who have bought a car in the last 6 months or who will buy a car within one year, 83 percent said they used the medium for their automobile purchase.

Automotive Sites Visited by
Internet Users Buying a Car
Site Percentage
1. Autotrader.co.uk 39%
2. Ford 29%
3. Fish 4 cars 26%
4. Exchange and Mart 24%
5.Vauxhall 24%
6. Renault 21%
7. Jamjar 19%
8. Volkswagen 19%
9. Autoexpress.co.uk 18%
10 Peugeot 18%
Source: Cospirit Research

Jupiter Research (a unit of this site’s corporate parent) found that the U.S. car buyer market presents great online potential. In a January 2003 survey of more than 1,100 U.S. adults, 27 percent were in the market for a car. Of that group, 42 percent were interested in new cars. Of the respondents that were considering new car purchases, 82 percent were using the Internet for research. Nearly half (47 percent) of that group claimed that the Internet would have a strong impact of the final make and model decision.

Traffic to Automotive Sites, U.S.,
week ending April 27, 2003
Brand or Channel Unique
Audience
Active
Reach
eBay Motors 2,453,000 2.98%
Kelley Blue Book 829,000 1.01%
MSN Autos 621,000 0.75%
AutoTrader.com 565,000 0.69%
AOL Auto 526,000 0.64%
Yahoo Autos 355,000 0.43%
Atlas Automotive Group 346,000 0.42%
Cars.com 341,000 0.41%
Autoweb.Com 270,000 0.33%
Edmunds.com 258,000 0.31%
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Whitepapers

US Mobile Streaming Behavior
Whitepaper | Mobile

US Mobile Streaming Behavior

5y

US Mobile Streaming Behavior

Streaming has become a staple of US media-viewing habits. Streaming video, however, still comes with a variety of pesky frustrations that viewers are ...

View resource
Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics for Media Groups
Whitepaper | Analyzing Customer Data

Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics for Media Groups

5y

Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics f...

Data is the lifeblood of so many companies today. You need more of it, all of which at higher quality, and all the meanwhile being compliant with data...

View resource
Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its people
Whitepaper | Digital Marketing

Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its peopl...

2y

Learning to win the talent war: how digital market...

This report documents the findings of a Fireside chat held by ClickZ in the first quarter of 2022. It provides expert insight on how companies can ret...

View resource
Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy
Report | Digital Transformation

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy

1m

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Exp...

Customers decide fast, influenced by only 2.5 touchpoints – globally! Make sure your brand shines in those critical moments. Read More...

View resource