Study Objectives
1) Measure the usefulness of third-party automotive websites in terms of meeting the needs of consumers shopping for a new or used vehicle
2) Help website developers determine best practices used by third-party automotive websites
3) Quantify the relationship between site usefulness and a site’s ability to build loyal visitors and advocates for the site
Next Relevant J.D. Power Report Scheduled for: Get ready for the next release of the Automotive Mobile Site Study (AMS) which is tentatively set to begin fielding on 7/19/2016 (AMS Releases in October)
Visual Web, Minimalist Navigation Tools Drive Increases in Shopper Satisfaction with Third-Party
Automotive Websites, Says J.D. Power
Following are the key findings of the 2016 study:
1) Visual Web Influences Site Preference: The study finds that the highest-scoring third-party auto
websites employ heavy use of visual Web design elements such as edge-to-edge imagery, cleaner
spacing and aesthetically pleasing call-to-action colors.
2) Expert Reviews Must Cover the Basics: Content is king when it comes to satisfying shoppers on
third-party sites, which includes ratings and reviews. Shoppers indicate the most important
content to cover in an expert review is safety (38%), performance (24%) and functionality (11%).
3) Satisfaction Drives Loyalty and Advocacy: The study finds that 83% of highly satisfied shoppers
(overall satisfaction scores of 901 or higher) using third-party websites say they “definitely will”
Example slide headlines:
Nearly 4 in 10 KBB.com Shoppers are open to purchasing used
85% of KBB.com Shoppers are primarily interested in purchasing new
6 in 10 KBB.com Visitors are open to purchasing different makes during their research
KBB.com is the most visited third-party site among online auto shoppers
Pricing and Vehicle Research Tools were the most useful content to shoppers who favor KBB.com