Auto trends for 2022 include reservations, electric vehicles and digital purchases.
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When you look at the top three automotive trends for 2022, you might think this is a page in Tesla’s playbook. Cars.com, the car shopping marketplace, has identified three trends driving consumer car sales this year. Those are:
Digital car-buying processes.
Electric vehicles.
Pre-orders of vehicles.
Tesla has been a leader in all three areas since the company’s inception, even amassing about 3 million pre-orders for a vehicle that doesn’t even exist outside of a concept car — the Cybertruck.
Other manufacturers are accelerating processes to keep pace with Tesla, and the mainstream auto market is following these trends to streamline and simplify the car buying process in an age of increasing complexity.
Silicon chip shortages and supply chain issues are causing delays in auto manufacturing. Cars.com says buyers are learning how to avoid long waits by planning ahead and pre-ordering their vehicles. The report shows that 41% of new car buyers plan to pre-order their next car from a local dealer.
To date, 16% of car buyers have tried pre-ordering, and 98% of them are satisfied with the experience.
While Tesla remains the best-selling electric car in the U.S., led by the affordable Model 3, consumers may demand more options in the future. Of those surveyed, 66% said they would be more likely to buy an electric vehicle given the economic incentives offered by President Joe Biden to buy a plug-in electric vehicle.
The Build Back Better program, which is currently deadlocked in Congress, promises a $12,500 tax credit for the purchase of U.S.-made plug-in electric vehicles. However, the credit only applies to electric vehicles priced at $55,000 or less, as well as electric trucks and SUVs priced below $80,000. Currently, eligible Electric Vehicle buyers can claim tax credits of up to $7,500, according to CNET.com.
People didn’t just express their intent to buy an electric car. Cars.com reports that searches for electric vehicles on the site have nearly doubled since 2020.
Auto trends for 2022, digital purchasing
According to Cars.com, in addition to online pre-orders, 38% of current car buyers want to complete the car buying process online. Another 38% would like to buy a vehicle in person from a dealership, but fill out documentation online ahead of time.
With these trends in the foreground, it’s entirely possible that by the end of the year, the way we choose and purchase cars — along with the vehicles themselves — will be very different.
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