Tag: automotive dealers

At Experian, we like to share success stories with automotive professionals—especially when it relates to one of our solutions—AutoCheck! Below is a case study involving our client, LexisNexis. We discuss how they were able to help their customer, a large national insurance company utilize AutoCheck vehicle history data to help manage risk and ensure more accurate underwriting. The challenge: LexisNexis Risk Solutions is a leader in providing essential information to help customers assess, predict, and manage risk. So, when a national insurance client asked them to evaluate the automotive mileage data model they were currently using for their underwriting, LexisNexis was happy to help. The client wanted to make sure they were analyzing the most accurate, up-to-date mileage data available. They wanted to make sure they were best managing risk, while continuing to offer competitive rates and a high level of customer service to their prospects and client base. The approach: First, the LexisNexis team set out to validate the frequency of recent VIN-level mileage data being populated into the current mileage model. They prepared a data analysis for their client, comparing length of ownership to the age of the oldest reported odometer reading based on AutoCheck vehicle history data. Second, they reviewed the frequency of current AutoCheck mileage data records and compared that data to AutoCheck vehicle history records. They wanted to determine if there were more mileage records being reported currently versus in the past. The LexisNexis team analyzed a large sample of VIN records with impressive results. The solution and outcome: When the team compared data from mid-2020 to that from late 2021, the analysis confirmed there were more VINs populated with mileage records with the data pulled from late 2021. Specifically, 45% of VINs had mileage records from within the last three years that did not previously have a mileage record within that time frame. The national insurance company was thrilled with the lift in mileage data year over year! In summary, because AutoCheck vehicle history data is constantly enhanced and expanded, we can provide reliable, accurate data to industry leaders like LexisNexis so they can offer the best insights to their client relationships. Recent mileage data is a critical component to use when evaluating a vehicle’s history. Experian Automotive is committed to continuously expanding our AutoCheck vehicle history data overall, including the frequency and recency of reported mileage information. AutoCheck is the industrial-strength vehicle history report that automotive professionals trust to help manage risk and confidently underwrite more of the right vehicles. To learn more about the many benefits of becoming an AutoCheck subscriber contact us today.

Last year is a testament to how quickly trends can shift, and entire industries can be turned upside down.

Millennials and Gen Z consumers have proven to be future trend shapers for the auto industry.

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

Experian Automotive Market Insights helps dealers efficiently identify potential conquest opportunities in their region and beyond.

Experian Automotive Market Insights dashboard provides a variety of insights to help dealers tackle their biggest challenges.

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.

The Experian Automotive Intelligence Engine™ enables dealers to find and reach potential customers

Experian Boost provides a unique opportunity to help dealers build loyalty while helping consumers.

Benjamin Franklin famously said that nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. While that may be true, I think we can add another item to the list — traffic. An unfortunate part of many people’s day, traffic is an inevitable consequence when moving from point A to point B, especially when you consider the sheer volume of vehicles on the road. According to the latest research from Experian, the number of vehicles in operation (VIO) has jumped 5.7 million, going from 265.3 million in Q3 2016 to 271 million in Q3 2017. In fact, more than 17 million new vehicles hit the road in the United States, with just 11.4 million exiting operation. Numbers of that size can be hard to process, so let’s focus on something more relatable. When you’re stuck in traffic, what types of vehicles are inching along at a snail’s pace with you? No matter which state you live in, chances are you’ll see lots of full-size pickup trucks. Why? The top vehicle segment in 42 out of the 50 states is full-size pickups. The only exceptions are Hawaii — which has small pickup trucks as the number one segment — and Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, California and Maryland, which prefer midrange standard cars. If you think about it, these exceptions make sense. Residents of the East Coast commuter states and California probably prefer smaller vehicles because they’re more fuel efficient and it’s easier to find parking. But if you talk to a pickup truck owner, you’ll almost certainly hear why trucks are the best vehicle to own. Not surprisingly, full-size pickups aren’t just the top segment in most states; they also make up the largest vehicle segment currently on the road, at 15.3 percent. In terms of top models for full-size pickups, the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado 1500 are the top two best-selling trucks nationwide. Overall, Ford and GM still hold the largest market share across all makes and models. Toyota showed the greatest market share growth, going from 12.5 percent in 2016 to 13.6 percent in Q3 2017. For more information about Experian’s most recent VIO data, watch our latest webinar.

Below is our 5 Results for Dealers and Agencies Using DPS infographic.

  The auto industry has been riding a wave of prosperity for the past seven years, bouncing back nicely from the 2008 market collapse. But, it looks like rising sales of the past 10 years, are, well...a thing of the past. According to Alix Partners, 2016 sales of 17.5 million units might be the high-water sales mark, at least through 2022. Alix Partners says the next five years sales will range between 15.6 million to 16.8 million annually. Suddenly, it will be challenging for dealers to stay in strong growth mode. How can dealers best react to the tightening market? The Experian white paper “Data Tools Evolve to Give Dealers an Edge in a Tight Sales Market” takes a look at how new and improved data and analytic tools can provide deeper insights to help automotive retailers unlock sales. The paper reviews current market sales statistics, historical sales trends and how dealers reacted during similar market conditions in the past. In addition, the paper provides a look at the challenges faced by automotive retailers, in terms of shrinking gross profit, higher advertising expenses and increased competition. Automotive retailers also will find information on the importance of customer conquesting and a look at technology tools to help provide a deeper understanding and actionable intelligence about local markets. Data and analytics are no longer the private purview of large mega-dealers. The Experian white paper outlines today’s data tools that can be implemented quickly and cost effectively by dealers of any size. To learn more about these trends, download the paper here: https://www.experian.com/automotive/dealerwhitepaper.html

Today is a great day for Experian and our automotive clients. We’ve been working with String Automotive for several years, and have now taken the next step in our relationship, as String Automotive has become part of the Experian family. In today’s generally flat new-car market, successful dealers need the perfect mix of data and market intelligence to drive more sales, cultivate deeper customer relationships and develop new ways of better conquesting customers from their competition. String Automotive’s Dealer Positioning System, matched with our own information and data-driven insights, provides our automotive dealer clients with an ideal solution to grow their businesses. It is the only platform to combine dealership website analytics and inventory information with automotive market, consumer demographic and purchasing behavior data. Simply put, it takes the pulse of each dealership’s local market and guides dealers to make the most profitable, proactive decisions for every store and unique situation. This powerful analytics solution simplifies choices like how to spend marketing dollars and where to target conquesting efforts by letting market and dealership data drive decisions. What’s the bottom line? The Dealer Positioning System increases profitability across the dealership. It’s one thing to hear that message from us, but we also hear of the benefits from our clients. Paul Schnell, digital marketing director at Wilsonville Toyota in Oregon, had this to say: "There is no 'I wonder if...' with the Dealer Positioning System®. Now it is, 'I know it and I can act on it today’. Their latest tools give us zip-code-level intelligence that's just not available at the dealer level any other way. We are micro-targeting the perfect message with the perfect vehicle to the perfect prospect." For more information on Experian or our other automotive products and services, please visit www.experian.com/automotive. For more information about String Automotive and the Dealer Positioning System, please visit http://stringautomotive.com/Dealer_Positioning_System.