92% of people buying cars today already research online. This year we saw a complete online car buying journey emerge including purchase and delivery. People want online car buying.
Prior to the pandemic, only a few dealerships had online capabilities to execute a full online experience. While the purchase journey itself was happening online, the purchase remained offline. Since COVID-19, at-home test drives and vehicle delivery were tied as the number 1 alternative to visiting a car dealership for shoppers.
At a time when social restrictions related to the pandemic are impacting consumer behavior, developing strategies for how to meet consumer demand for online buying and at-home delivery can make a large impact: 18% of auto shoppers would buy a vehicle sooner if they could purchase the vehicle they wanted without going to a dealership.