Europeans warm to buying cars online

The study, from Cospirit Research (formerly AMT Research), found that over 35 percent of Internet users in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK would be willing to buy a car online. That figure was as high as 45 percent in Italy and 40 percent in the UK. Cospirit found that most Internet users, particularly men aged between 25 and 45, view the Internet as a display window for cars. Sixty-two percent believe the Internet will save them time while searching for a new car, but few still believe the Internet will save them money on a car purchase. Both new and used vehicle buyers are more likely to see the Internet as a sales tool that aids them in the purchase of a vehicle, rather than as an alternative point of sale. Users are more likely to visit classified ad sites and intermediary sites than car manufacturers’ sites. Between 30 and 40 percent of online car buyers also use the Internet when searching for car financing and insurance.