Your next car is in your mobile device

A staggering 80 per cent of new car and almost 100 per cent of used car customers begin their car shopping experience online, enabling buyers to find their dream car at any hour of the day.

Dubai — Bored and awake at close to midnight? Thinking of buying a new car? Why not reach for your phone and explore a few options?

A staggering 80 per cent of new car and almost 100 per cent of used car customers begin their car shopping experience online, enabling buyers to find their dream car at any hour of the day.

Carmudi, an online marketplace, analysed millions of visits to the company’s car classifieds website, and the data shows that car buyers around the world, including the UAE, are predominantly searching for cars late at night.

Late night car searches is a growing trend with more than 40 per cent of global car buyers now searching for cars between 5pm and midnight. With e-commerce booming and increasing use of mobile phones to make purchases online, how we buy major goods is shifting.

Stefan Haubold, co-founder and global managing director of Carmudi, explained how the website works: “We are an online car classifieds where individuals or car dealers can buy and sell motorcycles, cars and commercial vehicles. What makes us unique is the quality of our services. We facilitate the transaction process, making it rather easy and transparent for our users.”

Traditionally, consumers bought a car after visiting dealers and test driving dozens of vehicles. With the average car dealer closing by 6pm, car buyers are now able to save valuable time by researching car brands, and shopping for the best price from the comfort of their own home.

From arranging test drives to applying for financing, the majority of the purchasing cycle takes place online. Dealers continue to play a vital role in the process, particularly when it comes to test driving.

Another insight gleaned from Carmudi data is that car consumers are transitioning from searching for vehicles on a desktop to using mobile apps. During working hours, only 15 per cent of consumers visit Carmudi via the app, but from 6pm to midnight, more than 55 per cent search for cars on their mobile app.

— rohma@khaleejtimes.com