Out of 575 survey participants in the U.S. who delayed purchasing a new vehicle during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, nearly half of the participants claimed that they would feel comfortable buying a vehicle from a dealership within ** days of the restrictions being lifted. Only ***** percent of respondents said that they would wait at least six months after restrictions have been lifted. Restrictions in the U.S. Like many countries worldwide, measures to slow down and control the spread of COVID-19 on a national scale were implemented across several U.S. states. Such measures included the temporary closure of schools, bars, restaurants, and movie theaters, along with the cancellation or postponement of several large public events. While online activity in the U.S. has steadily increased during the pandemic, e-tailers in the automotive industry are predicting a decrease in sales: projected auto sales growth for 2020 in the U.S. are anticipated to be **** percent below the level *** year earlier. Post-lockdown behavior Respondents in this survey were also asked whether they would feel comfortable performing other activities after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. A total of ** percent of respondents stated that they were comfortable buying a vehicle from a dealership within a month of restrictions being lifted, ** percent claimed that they would feel comfortable returning to work, ** percent would dine in at a restaurant, and only ** percent would travel via airplane.

In 2020, following the corona virus pandemic, the new forecasts for passenger car sales in Saudi Arabia was approximately *** thousand units. The forecasts of passenger car sales for that year previous to the pandemic was about *** thousand units.

Worldwide car sales grew to around ** million automobiles in 2024, up from around **** million units in 2023. Throughout 2020 and 2021, the sector experienced a downward trend on the back of a slowing global economy, while COVID-19 and the Russian war on Ukraine contributed to shortages in the automotive semiconductor industry and further supply chain disruptions in 2022. Despite these challenges, 2023 and 2024 sales surpassed pre-pandemic levels and are forecast to keep rising through 2025 and 2026. Covid-19 hits car demand It had been estimated pre-pandemic that international car sales were on track to reach ** million. While 2023 sales are still far away from that goal, this was the first year were car sales exceeded pre-pandemic values. The automotive market faced various challenges in 2023, including supply shortages, automotive layoffs, and strikes in North America. However, despite these hurdles, the North American market was among the fastest-growing regions in 2024, along with Eastern Europe and Asia, as auto sales in these regions increased year-on-year. Chinese market recovers After years of double-digit growth, China's economy began to lose steam in 2022, and recovery has been slow through 2023. China was the largest automobile market based on sales with around **** million units in 2023. However, monthly car sales in China were in free-fall in April 2022 partly due to shortages, fears over a looming recession, and the country grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. By June of that same year, monthly sales in China were closer to those recorded in 2021.

Out of 575 survey participants in the U.S. who delayed purchasing a new vehicle during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, nearly half of the participants claimed that they would feel comfortable buying a vehicle from a dealership within ** days of the restrictions being lifted. Only ***** percent of respondents said that they would wait at least six months after restrictions have been lifted. Restrictions in the U.S. Like many countries worldwide, measures to slow down and control the spread of COVID-19 on a national scale were implemented across several U.S. states. Such measures included the temporary closure of schools, bars, restaurants, and movie theaters, along with the cancellation or postponement of several large public events. While online activity in the U.S. has steadily increased during the pandemic, e-tailers in the automotive industry are predicting a decrease in sales: projected auto sales growth for 2020 in the U.S. are anticipated to be **** percent below the level *** year earlier. Post-lockdown behavior Respondents in this survey were also asked whether they would feel comfortable performing other activities after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. A total of ** percent of respondents stated that they were comfortable buying a vehicle from a dealership within a month of restrictions being lifted, ** percent claimed that they would feel comfortable returning to work, ** percent would dine in at a restaurant, and only ** percent would travel via airplane.

As of October 2020, North American auto demand was around 2.5 million units below 2019 levels. In terms of production in North America's largest market, output in the U.S. automotive industry was roughly 4,300 units in April 2020. U.S. plants reopened after a nine-week shutdown amid the coronavirus outbreak in the United States.

Worldwide car sales grew to around 78 million automobiles in 2024, up from around 75.3 million units in 2023. Throughout 2020 and 2021, the sector experienced a downward trend on the back of a slowing global economy, while COVID-19 and the Russian war on Ukraine contributed to shortages in the automotive semiconductor industry and further supply chain disruptions in 2022. Despite these challenges, 2023 and 2024 sales surpassed pre-pandemic levels and are forecast to keep rising through 2025. Covid-19 hits car demand It had been estimated pre-pandemic that international car sales were on track to reach 80 million. While 2023 sales are still far away from that goal, this was the first year were car sales exceeded pre-pandemic values. The automotive market faced various challenges in 2023, including supply shortages, automotive layoffs, and strikes in North America. However, despite these hurdles, the North American market was among the fastest-growing regions in 2024, along with Eastern Europe and Asia, as auto sales in these regions increased year-on-year. Chinese market recovers After years of double-digit growth, China's economy began to lose steam in 2022, and recovery has been slow through 2023. China was the largest automobile market based on sales with around 25.8 million units in 2023. However, monthly car sales in China were in free-fall in April 2022 partly due to shortages, fears over a looming recession, and the country grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. By June of that same year, monthly sales in China were closer to those recorded in 2021.

Worldwide car sales grew to around 78 million automobiles in 2024, up from around 75.3 million units in 2023. Throughout 2020 and 2021, the sector experienced a downward trend on the back of a slowing global economy, while COVID-19 and the Russian war on Ukraine contributed to shortages in the automotive semiconductor industry and further supply chain disruptions in 2022. Despite these challenges, 2023 and 2024 sales surpassed pre-pandemic levels and are forecast to keep rising through 2025 and 2026. Covid-19 hits car demand It had been estimated pre-pandemic that international car sales were on track to reach 80 million. While 2023 sales are still far away from that goal, this was the first year were car sales exceeded pre-pandemic values. The automotive market faced various challenges in 2023, including supply shortages, automotive layoffs, and strikes in North America. However, despite these hurdles, the North American market was among the fastest-growing regions in 2024, along with Eastern Europe and Asia, as auto sales in these regions increased year-on-year. Chinese market recovers After years of double-digit growth, China's economy began to lose steam in 2022, and recovery has been slow through 2023. China was the largest automobile market based on sales with around 25.8 million units in 2023. However, monthly car sales in China were in free-fall in April 2022 partly due to shortages, fears over a looming recession, and the country grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. By June of that same year, monthly sales in China were closer to those recorded in 2021.

Sales of used light vehicles in the United States came to around **** million units in 2024. In the same period, approximately **** million new light trucks and automobiles were sold here. Declining availability of vehicles In the fourth quarter of 2024, about ***** million vehicles were in operation in the United States, an increase of around *** percent year-over-year. The rising demand for vehicles paired with an overall price inflation lead to a rise in new vehicle prices. In contrast, used vehicle prices slightly decreased. E-commerce: a solution for the bumpy road ahead? Financial reports have revealed how the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has triggered a shift in vehicle-buying behavior. With many consumer goods and services now bought online due to COVID-19, the automobile industry has also started to digitally integrate its services online to reach consumers with a preference for contactless test driving amid the global crisis. Several dealers and automobile companies had already begun to tap into online car sales before the pandemic, some of them being Carvana and Tesla.

At around 1.2 million unit sales, light trucks remained the largest U.S. auto market segment in August 2025, up from around 1.1 million unit sales in August 2024. Global chip shortage affects supply The second quarter of 2020 saw a significant drop in automotive sales volume compared to the year before. Most of the disruption was seen in May, before restrictions to curtail the coronavirus pandemic were lifted. Sales showed signs of recovery in the following months, before dropping again in 2021. The industry's inventory-to-sales ratio nosedived in May 2020, and has not fully recovered since. Supply issues were not felt as strongly across the automotive sector, while car demand was low due to national lockdowns brought on by the pandemic. However, as consumers' purchasing intentions picked up, vehicle stocks could not meet the new demand due to chip shortages, which led to production halts and cuts. U.S. vehicle sales gain momentum thanks to light truck sales As the year 2020 came to an end, motor vehicle sales in the United States finished on a high note. Following the Covid-19 disruption, the U.S. auto sector began to recover in the third quarter. However, the semiconductor shortage and global inflation further impacted sales in 2021 and 2022. In contrast, 2024 was an encouraging year. U.S. motor vehicle sales grew to over 15.8 million that year, which was the highest it had been since the onset of the pandemic. This jump in sales was partly due to light truck retail sales, which exceeded their pre-pandemic level in 2024.

In December 2023, approximately *** million passenger cars and ******* commercial vehicles were sold in China, an increase compared to the previous month. Automobile demand in China China is home to the world’s largest market for automobile sales. Despite the recent decline in passenger car sales in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, the market bounced back and in 2023, the sales exceeded ** million units, making it the highest figure in the past years. Chinese car manufacturers China’s automobile market used to be dominated by international car manufacturers until recently. In 2021, Chinese manufactured vehicles had a market share of about **** percent in the Chinese vehicle market, followed by German vehicles and Japanese vehicles. The leading passenger car manufacturer is FAW-Volkswagen, which reported sales of about *** million vehicles in the same period.

In 2020, China, Germany, and the U.S. recorded significant slumps in passenger vehicle sales due to the lockdowns imposed by their respective governments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, global passenger vehicle sales increased due to the relaxation of lockdowns on the one hand and stimulus policies on the other hand. However, sales volume in China, Germany, and the U.S. were still below 2019 levels.

Strong growth in developing economies, like the BRICS and ASEAN member nations, has driven revenue for global car dealers despite slowdowns in established economies, like North America and Europe. Developed economies focus largely on value-added car purchases, while emerging markets focus primarily on volume. The transition to SUVs and crossovers with more safety and entertainment features has driven growth; in particular, these models' surging adoption rates have created numerous growth opportunities in developing economies. Even so, climbing interest rates across most key markets and faltering global consumer sentiment have somewhat constrained post-pandemic growth. Overall, revenue has expanded at an expected CAGR of 0.7% to $4.4 trillion through the current period, including a 2.1% jump in 2024, where profit reached 2.3%. Supply chain disruptions made new cars significantly more expensive, increasing inventory costs. Similarly, semiconductor and electronic component shortages reduced supply, leaving dealers with limited inventories. Even so, dealers were largely able to leverage torrid demand and pass added costs onto buyers, creating opportunities for revenue and profit growth. Volatile oil supply chains amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict also contributed to swelling demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles. Companies have also integrated online services to make the car-buying process simpler and more accessible, enabling them to combat heightened competition and access a wider network of buyers. The penetration of online platforms has transformed the car sales landscape, favoring larger dealership franchises over independent companies. Car dealers will continue to contend with substitutes, even as economic conditions improve and consumer sentiment rebounds through the outlook period. Government incentives and upstream innovations will also spur demand for electric and hybrid vehicles, generating strong per-unit revenue from dealers. Even so, slowing EV adoption rates in North America may dampen this segment's growth potential. Consumer preferences will also continue to trend toward online vehicle shopping, which provides convenience and efficiency to busy consumers, creating greater competition with various online dealers. Overall, revenue will climb at an expected CAGR of 2.5% to $4.9 trillion through the outlook period, where profit will reach 2.3%.

As the e-commerce industry becomes a prominent platform for converting sales globally amid the Covid-19 pandemic, attitudes toward buying a car online remain considerably hesitant, according to a survey conducted by Capgemini in May 2020. Respondents from the UK, at 32 percent, proved less likely to buy their future cars online from an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) or dealership, while respondents from India (44 percent) and China (49 percent) claimed they would buy their car online in the future. It is clear from these statistics that some reluctance toward purchasing cars online in the future still remains.

In December 2023, approximately 2.8 million passenger cars and 364,000 commercial vehicles were sold in China, an increase compared to the previous month. Automobile demand in China China is home to the world’s largest market for automobile sales. Despite the recent decline in passenger car sales in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, the market bounced back and in 2023, the sales exceeded 26 million units, making it the highest figure in the past years. Chinese car manufacturers China’s automobile market used to be dominated by international car manufacturers until recently. In 2021, Chinese manufactured vehicles had a market share of about 44.4 percent in the Chinese vehicle market, followed by German vehicles and Japanese vehicles. The leading passenger car manufacturer is FAW-Volkswagen, which reported sales of about 1.8 million vehicles in the same period.

In 2020, light vehicle sales worldwide declined by almost ** percent. By 2024, the market had increased well over pre-pandemic levels, despite supply chain issues, surges in automotive layoffs, and strikes in North America. In North America, around **** million light vehicles were sold in 2024. Light vehicle sales were to be around **** million units in the United States, North America's largest market, up from around **** million units one year earlier. Semiconductors Thrive Amidst the brewing tension brought forth due to the COVID-19 pandemic and global conflict, the semiconductor supply chain saw significant disruptions. Seemingly, one would expect that particular industry to have suffered greatly from such disruptions, but despite everything, global semiconductor industry revenue actually increased during 2020 and beyond, going from *** billion U.S. dollars in 2019 up to *** billion in 2022. In 2023, and even more so in 2024, the demand for semiconductors has surged, with companies like NVIDIA having nearly *** trillion U.S. dollars of market capitalization. Automotive Supply Global automotive suppliers, such as Bosch and Denso, suffered losses during the same period of instability in recent years, where the top 10 leading global automotive suppliers saw decreases in revenue from *** billion U.S. dollars in 2019 to *** billion dollars in 2020. These revenues bounced back in 2021 and beyond, reaching *** billion dollars in 2022. In particular, the earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) margins of nearly every automotive supply segment have bounced back from the reported disruptions; this includes original equipment manufacturers, and software suppliers.

Global vehicle sales have experienced significant fluctuations over the past two decades, with 2023 marking a return to pre-pandemic levels. The industry saw a sharp decline in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a gradual recovery. However, the semiconductor shortage in 2022 led to inventory issues and a slight decrease in sales. Despite these challenges, the market rebounded strongly in 2023, surpassing 92 million units sold worldwide. Recovery and future outlook The automotive industry's resilience is evident in its rapid recovery from the pandemic-induced slump. Light vehicle sales are projected to increase by 1.8 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year, with further growth of 2.5 percent expected in 2025. This positive trend is supported by the rebounding sales in China, the world's largest automotive market, and the growing demand for electric vehicles. The global production of motor vehicles reached 94 million units in 2023. Electric vehicles driving growth The shift towards electric vehicles is playing a crucial role in the industry's growth. In 2023, plug-in electric light vehicle sales reached an estimated 13.7 million units globally. This surge in demand is particularly noticeable in China and Europe's largest markets. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and semiconductor shortages, the electric car market experienced record growth, with market share increasing significantly. However, as government subsidies for electric vehicles begin to be rolled back in some countries, the industry may face new challenges in maintaining this growth momentum.

Mexico Motor Vehicle Sales: Automobiles data was reported at 53,067.000 Unit in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 50,552.000 Unit for Feb 2025. Mexico Motor Vehicle Sales: Automobiles data is updated monthly, averaging 44,323.000 Unit from Jan 1983 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 507 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 124,907.000 Unit in Dec 2016 and a record low of 6,318.000 Unit in Apr 1995. Mexico Motor Vehicle Sales: Automobiles data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics and Geography. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mexico – Table MX.RA003: Vehicle Sales. Refers to the sales of automobiles made to final consumer, including data on vehicle units imported by agencies and companies. Domestic car sales include the units that are manufactured or assembled using domestic and imported parts and components, which are destined for the national market. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

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The online car buying market share is expected to increase by USD 214.41 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market’s growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 12.4%.

This online car buying market research report provides valuable insights into the post-COVID-19 impact on the market, which will help companies evaluate their business approaches. Furthermore, this report extensively covers the online car buying market segmentations by Class Type (pre-owned and new vehicle) and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The online car buying market report also offers information on several market vendors, including American City Business Journals Inc., Asbury Automotive Group Inc., AutoNation Inc., CarGurus Inc., CarMax Inc., Cars & Bids LLC, Cars.com Inc., Cars24 Services Pvt. Ltd., CarSoup of Minnesota Inc., Carvago, Carvana Co., Cox Enterprises Inc., eBay Inc., Edmunds.com Inc., Hendrick Automotive Group, Lithia Motors Inc., MH Sub I LLC, Miami Lakes Automall, and TrueCar Inc., among others.

What will the Online Car Buying Market Size be During the Forecast Period?

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Online Car Buying Market: Key Drivers, Trends, and Challenges

The research studied the historical data considered for years, with 2021 as the base year and 2022 as the estimated year, and produced drivers, trends, and challenges for the global online car buying market.

Key Online Car Buying Market Driver

The increasing adoption of e-commerce and technological advancements in online channels are key factors driving the global online car buying market growth. Technological advancements such as the development of smartphones and rising Internet penetration are spurring the use of e-commerce applications to boost the sales of businesses, while the introduction of hybrid and electric vehicles has changed the buyers' position in the global online car buying market. With the aid of online technology, consumers are learning more about the vehicle, the on-road prices of new automobiles, residual value, third-party profit margins, and other factors for used cars. Additionally, growing urbanization, an increase in Internet connectivity, and the growth of the telecom industry have made it possible for the general public to access information much more easily. Online car dealers are increasingly using these factors to advertise their vehicles and disseminate information about them. The sale process has been streamlined on web platforms, which also makes it possible for more stakeholders to sell and acquire used cars. Thus, the growing e-commerce industry and the increasing adoption of technological advancements by vendors will propel the growth of the global online car buying market during the forecast period.

Key Online Car Buying Market Trend

Easy online financing will fuel the global online car buying market growth. Financing options are widely available on many car-buying websites, which encourages customers to get preapproval for loans before they even start looking for cars on their websites. According to a survey, 71% of customers choose to finance through the site where they purchased their car. These customers are highly satisfied with the financing options available on car-buying websites. Hassle-free loan applications and favorable interest rates attract more customers to opt for online financing options. For instance, AutoNation Inc. provides hassle-free auto financing options for every customer according to his or her needs and requirements. The company offers a wide range of finance programs that makes auto financing simple and clear. To provide a variety of financing and leasing alternatives, AutoNation has partnered with hundreds of banks in the US. Owing to such easy financing options, customers are attracted to online car-buying options. Thus, the availability of hassle-free and paperless online auto finance provided by car-buying websites will fuel the growth of the global online car buying market during the forecast period.

Key Online Car Buying Market Challenge

Limited customer awareness and acceptance in semi-urban and rural areas are the major challenges to the global online car buying market growth. Buying a car online is still an urban concept despite its prevalence and its numerous advantages. The acceptance of buying a car through online channels is low in semi-urban and rural areas. Buying cars online has not penetrated a large portion of the population, particularly in developing countries such as India. In emerging economies, including India, China, and Indonesia, a car is considered a status symbol. Thus, customers in such countries generally prefer to buy a car through physical stores where they can physically inspect the features of the car. For the middle-class population, buying a car is a major in

Motor Vehicle Sales: VAMA: Incl MBV & Lexus: Total data was reported at 23,186.000 Unit in Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 26,079.000 Unit for Mar 2025. Motor Vehicle Sales: VAMA: Incl MBV & Lexus: Total data is updated monthly, averaging 20,449.500 Unit from Jan 2011 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 172 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 44,978.000 Unit in Dec 2020 and a record low of 3,679.000 Unit in Feb 2013. Motor Vehicle Sales: VAMA: Incl MBV & Lexus: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Vietnam Automobile Manufacturer Association. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.H: Motor Vehicle Sales: incl MBV and Lexus. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

In 2020, light vehicle sales worldwide declined by almost 15 percent. By 2024, the market had increased well over pre-pandemic levels, despite supply chain issues, surges in automotive layoffs, and strikes in North America. In North America, around 19.2 million light vehicles were sold in 2024. Light vehicle sales were to be around 15.9 million units in the United States, North America's largest market, up from around 15.5 million units one year earlier. Semiconductors Thrive Amidst the brewing tension brought forth due to the COVID-19 pandemic and global conflict, the semiconductor supply chain saw significant disruptions. Seemingly, one would expect that particular industry to have suffered greatly from such disruptions, but despite everything, global semiconductor industry revenue actually increased during 2020 and beyond, going from 422 billion U.S. dollars in 2019 up to 600 billion in 2022. In 2023, and even more so in 2024, the demand for semiconductors has surged, with companies like NVIDIA having nearly two trillion U.S. dollars of market capitalization. Automotive Supply Global automotive suppliers, such as Bosch and Denso, suffered losses during the same period of instability in recent years, where the top 10 leading global automotive suppliers saw decreases in revenue from 332 billion U.S. dollars in 2019 to 280 billion dollars in 2020. These revenues bounced back in 2021 and beyond, reaching 346 billion dollars in 2022. In particular, the earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) margins of nearly every automotive supply segment have bounced back from the reported disruptions; this includes original equipment manufacturers, and software suppliers.