The Covid-19 pandemic is driving more and more people away from public transport, while almost one in three would be likely to buy their next car wholly online, according to a survey carried out for the car sales website CarNextcom.
The survey was carried out in August by market research organisation OnePoll, among 3,000 drivers in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
The survey found that 81% of people were now more likely to drive than use public transport, citing the pandemic as the main reason. At the same time, 60% of people said they felt unsafe using ride-sharing options, which had been growing in popularity before the coronavirus.
Nearly one driver in three – 31% – said they would be open to buying a car online, with the number going up slightly to 34% if home delivery were available. The figure went up to 50% if there were a 14-day money-back guarantee, and to 65% if a full maintenance history and mechanical checks were provided.
“The private car is king in the new normal,” commented Jan Wouter Kleinjan, chief product and marketing officer of CarNext.
“Our new survey shows that a massive 81% of people are now more likely to drive than take public transport due to safety concerns, while 84% of people have considered driving rather than flying for their next holiday. We’ve also seen a definite shift towards e-commerce during the pandemic, with a third of people now actively considering buying their next car online. Clearly these are structural shifts that prove online car buying isn’t just a temporary trend but an essential part of the new normal.”
Alan Hope
The Brussels Times
