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.

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.

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.

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.

As of 2023, the annual new passenger car sales in France amounted to nearly **** million passenger cars, representing ** percent increase from the previous year. New passenger car sales recorded a downward trend throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in France, dropping from over *** million cars sold in 2019 to just under **** million sales in 2021. The semiconductor chip shortage also impacted production and sales for French automakers, which contributed to a very slow recovery.

Light vehicle sales in the United States are anticipated to slowly grow in 2022, despite the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on automakers. U.S. light vehicle sales are projected to reach some **** million units in 2022, while it is expected that the auto industry in Europe will sell about **** million units that same year. Chinese light vehicle sales are projected to rise to just under **** million units in 2022.

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.

The Online Car Dealers industry flourished alongside the unique conditions associated with COVID-19, which boosted e-commerce sales across multiple industries. Lockdown restrictions limited access to in-person dealerships, forcing sales primarily online. Companies must strive to retain and convert first-time buyers into long-term, repeat sales. In many cases, online car sales are gaining favor among consumers that value convenience and efficiency. As more physical dealers incorporate online operations, competition has intensified as consumers can easily compare prices and features across websites. As a result, many online dealers have integrated various value-added services, like at-home test drives and virtual showrooms, to stave off competition. However, climbing interest rates and economic uncertainty have counteracted torrid e-commerce growth; consumers have pulled back on big-ticket purchases, like new or used cars, opting for repairs and maintenance. Overall, revenue has climbed at an expected CAGR of 4.7% to $50.9 billion through the current period, including a 2.0% jump in 2024, where profit will reach 0.3%. Supply disruptions also injected major volatility into the online industry. Semiconductor shortages contributed to massive new car shortages, forcing new car prices to skyrocket and leading to historic demand for used cars. Successful companies were able to leverage supplier connections and strong market positions to pass costs onto buyers, leading to torrid revenue growth. Regardless, the industry's intense competition prevents companies from significantly raising prices, forcing dealers to absorb costs and limiting profit. Expanding disposable income levels and consumer confidence will support new and used car sales through the outlook period. Upstream innovations will also encourage buyers to trade up to newer, more fuel-efficient and safer vehicles. Dealers must prioritize diverse inventories and customer satisfaction to attract and retain customers. These strategies will help online dealers differentiate from brick-and-mortar locations. Overall, revenue will expand at an expected CAGR of 2.8% to $58.4 billion, where profit will reach 0.3%.

In 2020, following the corona virus pandemic, the vehicle industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region had a decrease in its revenue from one time car sales of **** percent compared to 2019. In that year, remote test drives were being introduced to encourage car sales.

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.

It is estimated that 2024 saw plug-in electric light vehicle (PEV) sales of around 17.5 million units. The Chinese market picked up steam after a period of slowdown in 2020, as vehicle manufacturing and demand were at a standstill due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, electric vehicle sales in some of Europe's five largest markets surged in 2024. Electric car sales growth Global automobile production dropped significantly with the pandemic, with millions of jobs in the industry at risk globally. Later in the year, when lockdowns were lifted, demand for new cars bounced back, but the automotive semiconductor shortage impacted supply. Despite these issues, the electric car market experienced a record year, with an increase of over three million in global electric car sales, and notable market share growth. A present task for the future Many governments put forward green stimulus packages during the pandemic, many of which were directed towards supporting the automotive industry and securing jobs in the sector, with an emphasis on the clean transition. In China, the full new energy vehicle (NEV) subsidy program phase-out was postponed from the end of 2020 to the end of 2022. However, these investments are starting to be rolled back. In Germany, the largest car market in Europe, electric vehicle subsidies abruptly stopped at the end of 2023, following in the footsteps of countries like Norway, which have also moved away from subsidies.

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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

The U.S. auto industry sold nearly ************* cars in 2024. That year, total car and light truck sales were approximately ************ in the United States. U.S. vehicle sales peaked in 2016 at roughly ************ units. Pandemic impact The COVID-19 pandemic deeply impacted the U.S. automotive market, accelerating the global automotive semiconductor shortage and leading to a drop in demand during the first months of 2020. However, as demand rebounded, new vehicle supply could not keep up with the market. U.S. inventory-to-sales ratio dropped to its lowest point in February 2022, as Russia's war on Ukraine lead to gasoline price hikes. During that same period, inflation also impacted new and used car prices, pricing many U.S. consumers out of a market with increasingly lower car stocks. Focus on fuel economy The U.S. auto industry had one of its worst years in 1982 when customers were beginning to feel the effects of the 1973 oil crisis and the energy crisis of 1979. Since light trucks would often be considered less fuel-efficient, cars accounted for about ** percent of light vehicle sales back then. Thanks to improved fuel economy for light trucks and cheaper gas prices, this picture had completely changed in 2020. That year, prices for Brent oil dropped to just over ** U.S. dollars per barrel. The decline occurred in tandem with lower gasoline prices, which came to about **** U.S. dollars per gallon in 2020 - and cars only accounted for less than one-fourth of light vehicle sales that year. Four years on, prices are dropping again, after being the highest on record since 1990 in 2022.

Between 2019 and 2024, the largest segment of MAN SE in terms of unit sales was the vans segment. In 2024, the company sold nearly ****** vans. The sharp period of decline in vehicle sales during 2020 was in the midst of both the COVID-19 pandemic and global semiconductor shortages. It was not only MAN that suffered such losses as the number of cars sold worldwide suffered a decline during that same period.

Around 11.6 million light trucks were delivered to customers throughout the United States in 2021. That year, light trucks accounted for more than three quarters of all light vehicle sales in the United States. The automotive industry was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Light truck sales fared better than automobiles in part due to the popularity of models such as pickups in states with less stringent COVID regulations.

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]

Used car dealers in the United States had a market size of ***** billion U.S. dollars in 2021. While the industry value dipped at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, used car sales quickly recovered, with used car dealers' market value hiking above its pre-pandemic levels. The used car market boom The used car market has been gaining steam since 2017 when the volume of used light vehicles sold hiked by just under ** percent year-over-year to **** million sales. By 2021, around **** million used light vehicles were sold in the U.S, representing just under ** percent of the total light vehicle sales in the country. While sales increased, the average used vehicle selling price also inflated—up ** percent year-over-year in 2021—with vans, sport-utility vehicles, and crossover utility vehicles recording the steepest price increase. The semiconductor shortage, forcing halts in new vehicle production, is partly responsible for this boom in the used car market. Most used vehicle retail inventory in June 2022 was priced above ****** U.S. dollars, making the used car market increasingly inaccessible to consumers. Light trucks at the forefront of sales U.S. consumer satisfaction with their overall shopping experience dropped in 2021, with used car buyers reporting a satisfaction rate of ** percent, compared to ** percent in 2020. While 2021 satisfaction is higher than in 2019, this denotes the impact of higher prices on customers. Most consumers opted for used light trucks instead of used automobiles. The net purchase of used light trucks spiked in the third quarter of 2019, reaching ***** billion U.S. dollars in the second quarter of 2022, while auto sales had a net purchase value of ** billion U.S. dollars that same quarter. The Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and Ram Pickup 1500 were the 2016 to 2020 MY models with the largest share of used car sales in the U.S. Ford was also the third best-selling manufacturer for new vehicles in the U.S.

The wholesale and retail sector for cars and motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes has stagnated over the last five years. The steady rise in net monthly household income increased the potential for increased investment in cars. However, the economic conditions deteriorated due to the coronavirus crisis, which reduced demand for cars, especially in 2020. In addition, bricks-and-mortar retailers had to remain closed at times or were only allowed to open under strict conditions. This led to a slump in sales in 2020. Subsequently, the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine only had a slight negative impact on the car trade. In 2024 and 2025, the poor economic development in Germany and the weakening demand for e-cars had a negative impact on the German car trade and its profit margin. Industry turnover stagnated between 2020 and 2025 and is expected to fall by 3% to 233.8 billion euros in the current year.Positive effects are expected in the current year from an increase in net monthly household income. However, price increases for new and used vehicles are likely to limit demand and contribute to the decline in sales. Demand for electric vehicles, for which consumers no longer receive a purchase premium, is likely to remain subject to great uncertainty. The increase in new registrations of electric cars is partly due to a high number of dealer registrations. Private demand for e-cars in Germany therefore continues to weaken. While the improved consumer and business climate should have a positive effect on demand for cars, the increased use of public transport is likely to limit industry sales. As in recent years, industry players will continue to be confronted with strong price competition and increasing competition from online retail. The partial decline in the development of agency models with car manufacturers is likely to change the industry once again. Digital property presentation and modernisation of car dealerships as well as new models of car use such as car subscriptions will take centre stage. Competent employees are also becoming increasingly important in view of declining customer numbers and an increased focus on services. IBISWorld expects industry turnover to increase at an average annual rate of 0.3% over the next five years and reach €237.5 billion in 2030.