Cars.com Survey Reveals AI's Growing Influence on Car Shopping: 97% of AI Users Say it Will Impact Purchase Decisions and Almost Half Have Already Leveraged the Tech for Car Shopping

Core Insights - The article highlights that 44% of consumers are using AI-powered car search tools, indicating a significant shift in how Americans shop for vehicles [1][2] - The survey results show that 97% of consumers believe AI will influence their purchase decisions, marking a new era in auto retail [2] Consumer Behavior and Preferences - Approximately 73% of AI users find it saves time by converting conversational queries into targeted search results, while two-thirds desire an AI-powered personal car shopping assistant [2] - 71% of respondents trust AI tools for unbiased and accurate vehicle information, but 63% express concerns about potential biases in AI recommendations [3] Post-AI Search Actions - After using AI tools, 41% of shoppers are likely to visit a dealer or manufacturer's website, and 64% are open to additional recommendations from salespeople [4] - Most consumers prefer transitioning from AI tools to direct dealer interaction for budget and financing discussions when nearing a purchase [4] Impact of Carson - Carson, the AI tool launched by Cars.com, has shown strong engagement, with users returning to the site twice as often as other shoppers and saving three times more vehicles [5] - Carson currently assists about 15% of web and mobile searches on Cars.com and is continuously evolving with new features [5] Industry Positioning - Cars.com is positioned as a leader in automotive innovation, promising a more efficient and user-friendly experience for consumers and dealerships [6]