Stop Chasing Leads. Start Capturing Intent.
Download the 2026 Auto Buyer Trends Report
The linear car-buying journey is dead. In its place is a fragmented, multi-channel maze where shoppers bounce between AI tools, third-party marketplaces, and social media before ever visiting your showroom.
If your 2026 strategy looks like your 2024 strategy, you’re missing the "Moments of Intent" that define the modern sale.
C-4 Analytics’ latest Quarterly Consumer Intent Survey (QCIS) reveals the shift in buyer psychology. We’ve analyzed the data to show you exactly where the 2026 buyer is going, what they expect from your digital tools, and why AI is changing their research habits—but not in the way you might think.
What’s Inside the Report:
-
The Fragmentation Map: Why 57% of buyers start online, but intent is scattered across dozens of "micro-moments."
-
The AI Trust Gap: Only 27% of shoppers trust AI as much as a salesperson. Learn how to use AI to build credibility rather than automate it away.
-
The New "Table Stakes": Why features like online paperwork and video consultations are now viewed as trust infrastructure by 79% of shoppers.
-
Emerging Segments: A look at the urban, high-income cohorts whose "subscription-style" expectations are migrating into the mainstream.
-
The 4-Point Winning Playbook: Actionable steps to align your SEO, Paid Media, and CRM to win in a noisier market.