Tag: auto

In Q3 2021, the average new vehicle loan amount increased 8.5% year-over-year, while the average used vehicle loan jumped more than 20% year-over year.

In Experian’s Automotive Market Trends Review: Q2 2021, we looked at the data to better understand EV and internal combustion engine registration trends.

Although 2021’s continued focus is Americans learning to co-exist with COVID-19, automotive manufacturers and dealers will likely remember 2021 as the year of the chip. The semiconductor chip shortage is now expected to cost the global automotive industry $210 billion in revenue in 2021 and it is now forecasted that 7.7 million units of production will be lost in 2021, up from 3.9 million in the May forecast.1 Most experts agree that the shortage will likely extend into 2022. Chip Shortage Creates Additional Challenge for Dealers The current shortage in semiconductors has automotive manufacturers and dealers questioning whether to continue advertising or pull back. Some dealers view the increase in profits due to reduced inventory a signal to pull back on advertising spend. Other dealers, however, are thinking about long-term marketing strategy—and are continuing to advertise to help maintain brand exposure to customers. Foreword-thinking dealers and agencies should use this time to evaluate advertising strategies and plan for life after the chip shortage. Staying visible to customers in the interim is critical, so any advertising needs to be strategic in audience, medium and message. Here are three recommendations to help keep your brand in front of current and future consumers while using marketing dollars wisely. Identify Your Audience: Be Sure to Market to the Right People Knowing which consumers are most likely to purchase your vehicles is a key element of targeting with the promise of saving money by marketing only to those who are most likely to result in a sale. By evaluating prior purchase, demographic, and psychographic trends, including specific life events, dealership marketers can more effectively pinpoint demand as well as foster positive relationships. For example, knowing that a consumer recently added a new child to the family would be a great reason to send a coupon or make a call. Experian’s Automotive Intelligence Engine™ (AIE) will send “events” to your CRM to alert you of life events that can help develop and deepen relationships that lead to future vehicle sales. Additionally, AIE’s Market Insights enable dealers to grow market share by identifying the best prospects and matching them with the right messages. Strategically targeting both conquest and loyal customers with appropriate messaging keeps consumers engaged so they will remember your brand when they buy next. Leverage Your Brand Reputation Keeping your brand front and center has been the cornerstone of your marketing efforts and that shouldn’t change. Much like looking at family photos or reading an article about your favorite team, exposure to positive advertisements reinforces a consumer’s relationship with your brand. Whether the goal is to leverage your OEM driven brand awareness or support the consumer relationship with your dealership, positive messages from local dealers perpetuate ongoing loyalty. Experian’s Automotive Intelligence Engine generates powerful marketing strategies and efficient data-driven, omni-channel media plans with engaging, brand-specific messaging direction that resonates with consumers. Dealers and agencies use AIE to generate custom marketing plans that leverage data-driven market analysis, strategic audience creation, and powerful marketing strategy, creating messages that effectively reach the right prospects, with the right message, on the right channel. This end-to-end solution will reach consumer mailboxes, inboxes, screens, and computers where your best audiences spend their time. Continue to Foster a Positive Relationship with Consumers Marketing is more than selling a story.  Marketing initiates the consumer experience, especially in the digital world. From effective OTT ads to strategic social posts, successful dealerships often put their relationship with the community at the heart of their message. Simple images of your dealership delivering meals to local first responders and essential workers or posts showing the local high school marching band loading instruments into one of your trucks can convey a strong sense of community pride to your brand.  This sort of promotion impacts future consumer purchases well beyond any chip shortage. While the chip shortage has had a profound impact on how dealerships approach vehicle acquisition, price structures and marketing, it will eventually be resolved. The decisions you make now can have a big impact on your success when the shortage ends. Learn more about Experian’s Automotive Intelligence Engine™ (AIE). https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/23/chip-shortage-expected-to-cost-auto-industry-210-billion-in-2021.html

Despite used vehicle prices rising, loan-to-value (LTVs) ratios are dropping. Ultimately, lower LTVs are a positive trend for consumers because it puts them into positive equity on their vehicle faster.

The automotive finance market is beginning to level out to pre-pandemic trends in Q2 2021.

I woke up early this morning to get my run in on the treadmill before starting my day. As I listened to music on my Pandora account, I saw an advertisement for my local Ford dealer. Later in the week, I was streaming my favorite show, and on came an advertisement suggesting I service my vehicle at the same local Ford dealer. When I checked my email on Tuesday, I remembered I wanted to schedule my service. Then came the letter with an option to check the appraisal for my vehicle. Now, I am fully shopping!!! Why you ask? Because the marketing message across so many channels set the stage for my interest. According to Google, multi-channel users will have a 30 percent higher lifetime value compared to single channel users. As contemporary society grows more attached to streaming services, social media and their cell phones, it is imperative to market to consumers where they spend time. Why then do so many automotive marketing companies only offer direct mail and email? Simple− those two forms of communication have been around for decades and can be the most cost effective to provide. While direct mail marketing is effective, utilizing the power of social media, streaming services and other digital platforms effectively puts your message in front of consumers. While I can toss the letter on my desk for later reading, the video commercial during my television streaming cannot be set aside. Multi-channel marketing combines various platforms to amplify your campaign’s frequency and reach, creating more effective messaging. One channel is often not enough for a robust marketing campaign since audiences tend to frequent many different channels. Experian’s Automotive Intelligence Engine with Marketing Creative & Fulfillment executes the strategic marketing plan created in AIE with true multi-channel messaging. This end-to-end solution utilizes Experian’s world-class data to create a powerful, brand-specific marketing strategy that resonates with your buyers by reaching their inbox, mailbox, screen and desktop −where they spend the most time.

Experian’s Q1 2021 Automotive Market Trends Review revealed that some of the once-consistent new registration generational trends have reversed.

In the Q1 2021 Market Trends Review, we explore the average age myth and highlight other ways to inform aftermarket strategy.

Expanded FCRA regulated data can help lenders extend more credit, and ensure consumers have access to affordable credit when they need it.

Experian's Q1 2021 State of the Automotive Finance Market report explores the benefits of leveraging both national and regional data when strategizing.

Trends can vary based on location. In the Q1 2021 State of the Automotive Finance Market report, we took a look at market share nationally and regionally.

Experian’s Q4 2020 Market Trends Review takes a closer look at aftermarket trends, including the growing sweet spot.

In 2020, new trends emerged, driven by a continued shift in consumer preferences. Let’s take a closer look at how the industry fared during the year.

Experian's Q4 2020 State of the Automotive Finance Market report gives insight into the current state of the leasing market.

Experian Automotive Market Insights includes an in-depth analysis of auction volume across the United States.