Marketing & Acquisition
Experian Automotive Market Insights dashboard provides a variety of insights to help dealers tackle their biggest challenges.
Small SUVs became the most financed vehicle segment in Q3 2020, making up 26.01% of all financed vehicles during the quarter.
According to Experian’s Q3 2020 State of the Automotive Finance Market report, 26.20% of all new vehicles are leased compared to 30.27% last year.
Leveraging data to eliminate wasted ad spend will set your dealership up for success in the new year.
Experian recently announced the new members named to its Fintech Advisory Board, which provides Experian with valuable insights into the fintech industry.
While the automotive industry initially took a hit at the onset of COVID-19, things are beginning to rebound. New vehicle registrations are still down compared to 2019, however, the year-over-year comparisons by month are starting to level out. And, while most of the attention has been paid to new registration figures, we can’t lose sight of the vehicles on the road. Some consumers acted to take advantage of automaker incentives and low interest rates, and others purchased due to newfound needs, but the vast majority have stuck with their current vehicle. That means, despite some bumps over the past few months, opportunity for the aftermarket and dealer service departments to thrive by keeping these vehicles on the road still exists. It starts with understanding what’s on the road. Insight into these vehicles will better position aftermarket suppliers and repairs shops to perform scheduled maintenance and address the needs of drivers. According to Experian’s Q2 2020 Market Trends Review, there were 280.6 million vehicles in operation, up from 278.1 million a year ago. Of those vehicles on the road, light-duty trucks accounted for 56.5%, and passenger cars made up the remaining 43.5%. So, there’s little surprise that the top three segments on the road were full-sized pick-ups (16%), CUVs (10%) and mid-range cars (9.9%). And if we break it down even further, the top three brands were Ford (15.5%), Chevrolet (14.3%) and Toyota (12.1%). But we understand that not all 280.6 million vehicles will need aftermarket parts or service; it’s important for the industry to keep a close eye on the aftermarket “sweet spot”—those vehicles that are six- to 12-years old. Identifying these vehicles and anticipating their maintenance needs will help aftermarket suppliers navigate the recovery. In Q2 2020, 31.2% (87.6 million) of vehicles in operation fell within the “sweet spot”—with a mix nearly 46% domestic and 54% import brands. And while the opportunity today is significant, we expect the “sweet spot” to continue to grow for at least the next four years. To make the most of the opportunity, aftermarket suppliers need to understand where these vehicles are located, what types of vehicles fall within the sweet spot and the most common parts that are used. COVID-19 has shifted the industry for all parties involved. Some consumers may opt to hold onto their vehicles a little bit longer rather than purchase a vehicle; only time will tell. In any event, the more aftermarket suppliers and repair shops understand about the vehicles on the road, the better positioned they will be to address the needs of consumers and grow business. To view Experian’s full Q2 2020 Market Trends Review, click here.
To maximize limited marketing spend, lenders will need to be more prescriptive to increase response rates on fewer delivered offers.
Staying ahead of the trends and adjusting will support sales growth, while also supporting consumers as they begin to recover from the impact of COVID-19.
Consumer sentiment can help automotive marketers create a more human connection with consumers.
Experian recently released its Q1 2020 Market Trends report, which provides insights about the vehicles on the road and the most popular vehicle segments.
The housing sector, in particular, looks poised to regain momentum and perhaps lead the path towards stabilization in the second half of 2020.
Many marketing budgets were already small prior to the global pandemic, so coming out of it, to say every marketing dollar counts is an understatement.
Including vehicle history reports in online vehicle listings create a more complete picture of the vehicle a consumer is looking at online.
Amid the fallout of COVID-19, I often find myself thinking about the impact the pandemic has had and will have on businesses in the coming months—particularly those within the automotive industry. The impact has reached all facets of the industry, leaving dealerships to take unprecedented action. Some have temporarily closed, while many have shifted business priorities to focus on maintenance and repair. Like everyone, we in the automotive industry are concerned about the health and safety of our family, friends and communities. Much like the rest of small business owners, those that oversee dealerships are also concerned about the wellbeing of their work families. The automotive industry is a pillar of our economy, and dealerships are staples within our local communities. Experian has an unwavering commitment to help the industry navigate these uncertain times and address challenges as they arise. The pandemic has impacted groups of people differently and at different times. It’s important for those within the automotive industry to understand how consumer sentiment and priorities will shift over the coming months, in order to address their most pressing needs. As such, Experian launched a daily survey of the general population to gain insight into shifting consumer sentiment as a result of the pandemic. The survey reveals how consumers are dealing with the outbreak across key industries, including automotive. As of May 4, 2020, only 20 percent of Americans plan on buying a new car, truck, van or motorcycle within the next few months, and of those, only 50 percent plan to continue the purchase as planned. 26 percent plan to delay the purchase a few months. While car shopping may not be a priority for most in the coming months, there are consumers who will need to replace their vehicle sooner rather than later—perhaps their lease is set to expire, or they’ve experienced car trouble. In these instances, it’s important for dealers to be able to connect with these consumers to help them understand the options available to them. With this urgency in mind, Experian is providing dealers with complimentary access to nationwide and local automotive market trends. The information will be updated weekly to help dealers gain insight into current sales trends and website traffic, better understand in-market car shoppers and identify the most effective communications channels. For instance, during the week of April 27, dealer website traffic was down 11 percent from the same time last year. That said, web site traffic has picked back up over the past few weeks.. With the short- and long-term impacts of the pandemic largely unknown, dealerships must adapt quickly. Consumers' vehicle needs will shift based on circumstance, and it’s important for dealers to continually assess the market. We are all adapting to our new environment, and will need to collaborate to find ways to combat the fallout—it’s a difficult time for many, including dealers. The automotive market will recover, and Experian is committed to helping the automotive industry navigate the recovery and ensure car shoppers can find vehicles that meet their needs. To view the Automotive Trends & Marketing Insights and sign up to receive your complimentary local market trends, click here. To view the Consumer Sentiment Index, click here.
In the past 10 years, consumers begin purchasing convertibles as early as March.