Cruise to Success: Automotive Marketing Trends Steering Industry Growth

Automotive Marketing Trends

The way cars are sold has changed a ton because buyers have jumped online before even thinking about hitting the dealership. There’s a lot of chatter about using the internet and folks with big online followings to drive the car market.

Online Research Impact

These days, checking out cars online is as normal as scrolling through social media. Most people, about 90%, do a ton of their homework on the internet before even stepping into a dealership (Open Influence). This means car dealers and brands need to be all over automotive digital advertising and automotive search engine marketing to stay in the game.

Folks want to find all the details online— think specs, what others are saying, and how much they’re going to have to fork over. If this info isn’t easy to find, people might just take their business elsewhere and trust in the brand drops.

Influencer Marketing Importance

Using influencers in car marketing has become a big deal. These online personalities have a knack for getting people to listen and act, mainly because they feel more like a buddy than an ad. If done right, this can mean more cars sold and a brand that feels a little more human.

Here’s how to make automotive influencer marketing work for you:

1. Flashy Video Content: Videos are a hit for showing off what a car can do.
2. Align With The Buying Process: Aim to hit the right notes at different points of their shopping journey.
3. Mix It Up Across Platforms: From Instagram to YouTube, the more places, the better the reach, just like in successful automotive marketing campaigns.

Influencers have a loud voice online, and car brands need to tune into this frequency. Pairing a solid web presence with these influencer partnerships could keep those sales numbers climbing and set a brand up for long-term success.

Emerging Automotive Trends

Buckle up because the car business is shifting gears, driven by what folks want and all those shiny new gadgets. Right at the front of the pack are eco-friendly cars tapping into the planet-saving vibe and tech-savvy rides upping the fun and function behind the wheel.

Green Cars and Sustainability

Everybody’s talking green when it comes to cars, because who doesn’t want to save the Earth while cruising down the road? Interest in electric vehicles (EVs) is revving up, with a huge bump projected in their numbers. Experts say we’ll see global EV sales climb from 10.2 million units in 2022 to a whopping 32.2 million by 2030 (Evarts Tremaine). That means car dealers need to get savvy with their sales pitch, highlighting the cool, green factor.

With green machines hitting the road, car marketers got to shout about all the eco-perks, like saving gas money, bagging government perks, and cutting down on running costs over time.

Tech-Enabled Vehicles

Next up, cars aren’t just about getting from A to B anymore. Tech is getting mixed in, blurring the lines between vehicle and gadget. Cars now come with all the bells and whistles, from snazzy infotainment systems to ‘look ma, no hands’ driving options (Open Influence).

Young folks, especially, are eating this up like candy. They want cars that are always connected and convenient, and that’s where the auto marketing game should focus its efforts automotive marketing campaigns.

If you’re selling cars, make those techy bits shine in your ads. Chat up the eco-friendly and gadget-filled rides to connect with the crowd. Splash the details in automotive content marketing and keep the convo rolling on social platforms like automotive social media marketing.

Successful Marketing Strategies

In the fast-paced auto biz, dealerships and service centers need some smart moves to stay ahead. Two hot ideas right now are using video content and crafting seamless campaigns across the board.

Video Content Utilization

Video’s the MVP of today’s car marketing game. It’s got the power to pull in customers and really show off those slick rides. Studies show video can amp up engagement and get your brand noticed in a big way.

Dealerships should dive into videos showing car walkarounds, happy customer stories, and how-to feature guides. On top of that, videos can be a key part of automotive social media marketing to hook potential car buyers.

Omnichannel Campaigns Creation

Connecting the dots with omnichannel campaigns is a home run for marketing. These setups bridge multiple platforms, giving folks a smooth ride through the buying process. Since 87% of car shoppers do their homework before hitting the showroom (Sun Media Marketing), covering all bases is vital.

To nail your omnichannel game, team up with influencers to dial up your reach. Their buzz can blend into your game plan, making sure content clicks with your dealership’s goals and what your future customers want.

Rolling out these savvy strategies can supercharge a dealership’s marketing playbook, steering sales and service bookings to new heights on digital platforms. For more on leveling up your marketing chops, check out automotive marketing solutions or team up with an automotive marketing agency for some personal coaching to fit your groove.

Digital Transformation in Automotive

The car biz is doing some serious catching up, thanks to the digital game-changer that’s shaking up marketing strategies. We’re talking social media, and the lowdown on why delivering bang-on content is the name of the game.

Social Media Integration

Social media has gone and flipped the script on how car companies chitchat with folks. It’s like they’ve found a megaphone that works worldwide. You get the drill — they can now flaunt their rides and whatnot globally (WareSpace). There are about 3.96 billion souls hooked on social media, spending a good chunk of their day scrolling and clicking ‘buy’ online (GRIN).

Why bother with social media, you ask? Well, it’s not just about showing off. It builds a brand, juices up sales, and drives traffic. Chatting with fans, sharing stories, or even dropping tips about the latest auto trends keeps the buzz alive and kicking.

Jumping on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter can connect car sellers with curious potential buyers, making any dealership likely to see more service sign-ups and sales slips.

Quality Content Importance

When it comes to selling cars, what you say matters. Solid content in auto marketing tweaks how customers feel and keeps them coming back. Want to shine in car kingdom? Nail your content strategy. This stuff gets customers in the door, trusting you as the go-to guru.

Killer website content can boost you up search result ladders – super crucial if you want eyes on you. Add-in links wisely and up goes your SEO game (Sun Media Marketing). Team your content with these features:

By mixing top-notch content with digital marketing, like slapping together a snazzy blog or rolling out a video, you up your customer’s experience and get closer to checking off those marketing milestones. Want more wisdom on making it happen? Peek at automotive content marketing and automotive digital advertising.

Targeting Different Groups

Getting to know what moves different age groups is the secret sauce for driving your car biz to success. Here, we’re talking about Millennials and Gen Z – two huge forces in today’s automotive scene.

Millennials: What They’re Into

Millennials, born from ’81 to ’96, are car crazy but quite picky about what drives them. They’re big on keeping things connected – think fancy sound systems that play nice with their phones. Plus, they’re all for saving the planet, often opting for rides that are easy on Mother Earth, like hybrids and electric cars.

Also, they’re all about ease, wanting straightforward shopping. They love digital tools that make car buying a breeze. Car sellers should play up these perks in their digital ads to catch Millennial eyes.

Generation Z: How They Roll

Gen Z, the folks born from the late 90s to the early 2010s, are a whole different breed. They live online but love going offline to buy their cars, enjoying the personal touch of a dealership walk-around.

Unlike Millennials, Gen Z wants real-talk marketing. They’ll hit the thumbs-up on brands that vibe with their values. That’s why using influencers in car marketing can hit the sweet spot with them, building a bond and loyalty that sticks.

For those selling rides, crafting methods to woo Millennials and Gen Z is smart business. Knowing what makes these groups tick helps car brands roll out killer marketing strategies that build solid relationships and rev up those sales.

Geographic Segmentation Impact

Urban vs. Suburban vs. Rural Preferences

Geographic differences seriously mess with what cars people want to buy. What people like and need in a car can really depend on where they live. So, car companies need to pay attention to what’s popular in different areas if they want to sell their rides effectively.

City folks go for tiny cars. No surprise there; when you’re squeezing through packed streets, you need something that fits and doesn’t guzzle gas. That’s why little cars are all the rage in metro areas (Lotame).

Out in the ‘burbs, it’s a different story. Suburbanites love their SUVs. With all that trunk space, it makes sense—they need room for the family and all their weekend adventure stuff. Plus, SUVs are versatile as heck—from driving kids to soccer to hitting the trails for weekend fun (Lotame).

And in rural spots, you’ll find a different scene yet again. All-terrain vehicles rule here. These rides are built tough to handle the rough roads and nasty weather that rural folks often face. They’re essentials, not luxuries, for these drivers.

Car makers gotta get the local vibe if they want their marketing to hit home. Push the right wheels with the right features in the right place, and people will pay attention. It’s all about knowing what pulls at the heartstrings of city, suburban, and rural customers so brands can boost their game and win fans all over (Sun Media Marketing).

By playing to the unique tastes of each crowd, automakers can craft killer strategies that make loyal customers and rack up those sales in automotive marketing campaigns.

Rise of Electric Vehicles

Growth and Impact

The electric vehicle (EV) trend is shaking things up in the car biz. Projections say the global EV market will leap from 10.2 million rides in 2022 to a whopping 32.2 million by 2030. That’s a whole lotta zeroes and a tidy 21.2% yearly growth rate. In good ol’ U.S. of A, EV sales have come a long way, jumping from a tiny 0.2% of total car sales in 2011 to 4.6% in 2021. Those numbers are expected to soar high, with some experts thinking EVs might make up 40%—even topping 50%—of the cars rolling off showroom floors by 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

What’s driving this change? Some of it is thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act tossing $7.5 billion into building a coast-to-coast charging station network. Plus, there’s those tax breaks—up to $7,500 when you snag a new EV, sticking around until 2032. Car makers are also dumping billions into R&D and new plants for battery production. The aim? Kick that EV rollout into high gear.

For dealerships, this switch up in consumer taste changes the playbook. Car sellers and marketers now need to keep pace with the rising demand for electric cars.

Automotive Repair Industry Challenges

Jumping headfirst into EVs isn’t just about buying; it changes the game for fixing them too. Unlike your old clunker, electric cars don’t need the same TLC. Those greasy, rugged components are replaced by slick batteries and electrified powertrains that need someone who actually knows a thing or two about electronics.

The shift from pistons to plugs demands some new-age know-how. Car repair shops need a load of cash for fancy tools and staff who can handle today’s tech. This might mean going on a wild goose chase for rare parts or turning wrench-wielders into tech gurus, all with an eye on mastering the high-tech heart of EVs.

As EV systems get more and more complex, old-school fixes may go the way of the dodo. Repair shops will face a steep learning curve, not to mention the importance of savvy strategies to educate service folks and car owners alike on keeping these silent speedsters in tip-top shape.

In the end, while EVs unlock a treasure chest of sales potential, they also roll out challenges for repair shops that must be met with sharp marketing moves and a team armed with hot-off-the-press skills.

Future of Automotive Sales

Check this out: the car sales world is buzzing with excitement over two hot trends making waves now—the rebounding of sales back to their pre-pandemic glory days and the rise of electric and hybrid cars. These are forcing dealerships, service managers, and marketing whizzes to mix things up a bit in their sales pitches and service bookings.

Return to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Word on the street is that car sales in 2023 are gonna be up by about 9% (Porch Group Media). Folks who’ve been in the doldrums since COVID are finally catching a break. This upswing is a golden chance for car sellers to play around with new marketing ideas, think cool online ads, and really vibe with what people want these days.

Bouncing back from the pandemic slump, car businesses have a sweet shot at shaking up their marketing game. Time to get into the groove with automotive digital advertising and focus on the buzz around consumer fancies.

EV and Hybrid Sector Growth

Electric and hybrid rides are on fire with sales expecting to jump 29% from 2022 to 2023 (Porch Group Media). If you’ve kept your ear to the ground, you’ll know electric cars in the U.S. started from humble beginnings—just 0.2% of total sales back in 2011. By 2021, they’d revved up to about 4.6%. And by 2030, EVs might even zoom to 40% or more of all passenger sales (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

As more folks plug into electric, marketing brains are gonna have to step up their game. Think promoting flashy new tech, shining a light on green benefits, and tackling what folks worry about when it comes to owning an EV. Those specialized automotive marketing companies have got it covered.

Keeping an eye on these trends is how you stay ahead in the car game. Going with fresh automotive marketing solutions means catching the eye of buyers who are all about electric and hybrid cars.