Data Point
COVID-19: Tracking U.S. Consumer and Automotive Dealer Sentiment (Issue #17)
Wednesday August 26, 2020
Article Highlights
- Dealers indicate sale and service levels are getting back to normal.
- Service pickup and delivery is growing in popularity, could be a revenue driver.
- Digital retailing will likely transform dealership staffing strategies.
The Cox Automotive Industry Insights team has published another round of research on the evolving impact of COVID-19 on consumers and automobile dealers in the U.S. The report was released today. This ongoing research, which sheds light on consumer and dealer attitudes and behaviors during the pandemic, began in late March and continues to be updated biweekly.
This issue, the 17th report in the series, offers a fresh look at how the pandemic is impacting dealer operations. Key takeaways include:
- For the first time in a long time, there’s positive news out there: In late August, more automobile dealers were indicating that their sales and service levels were getting back to normal. With inventory under pressure, though, dealers are raising prices as well.
- It’s all about the SPUD: More consumers are experiencing service pick-up and deliver (SPUD), and they like it. In fact, many are willing to pay for it, but few dealers are charging.
- Digital Retailing Continues to Transform Automotive Retailing: To thrive in this new digital future, dealers must adapt their business operations, communication strategy, and staffing models to maximize the value of their solution.
Download the summary of COVID-19: Tracking U.S. Consumer and Automotive Dealer Sentiment here. And, as always, if you want to dig deeper or speak to any of the experts at Cox Automotive, reach out to our PR Team. They’d be happy to help.