The pandemic has thrown a wrench into even the best-laid of plans this year, and it has greatly affected those looking to purchase or lease a vehicle. As far back as April, nearly four in five consumers were delaying their next purchase due to COVID-19, but we're starting to see glimmers of hope. For brands and dealerships to maintain their market share, though, they'll need to pay close attention to consumer preferences. Below, find out more about the state of automotive purchase process amidst the pandemic.

With Americans largely confined to their homes over the past few months, most haven’t been getting much use out of their automobiles. Additionally, those who were planning to buy or lease a vehicle have largely postponed their plans to do so; of the 39% of respondents to a CarInsurance.org study who were planning to buy or lease a car between March and May, 71% said they had decided to wait until later on. In this infographic, we take a look at consumers’ auto habits during the pandemic and what they might prioritize in their purchases going forward.

From connected phone applications and Apple CarPlay to 360º cameras, the automotive industry has seen some amazing technological advancements in recent years. Yet, despite all of the innovation happening to the cars themselves, the auto-buying experience has remained largely the same. While brands in other sectors have made great strides to offer fast, seamless purchase experiences, buying a car can be a fractured experience from the online discovery phase to in-person at the dealership.

In the U.S. market alone, there are 412 distinct car models, speaking to the immense amount of choice available to car-buying consumers. And, with the average adult consumer purchasing a car every six to seven years, this makes it all the more imperative for brands to capitalize on those precious few moments.

Years ago, consumers would visit an average of five auto dealerships before purchasing a car. Today, they visit an average of two. Even before consumers sit in the driver’s seat, they’ve already spent hours researching auto brands online. And, by the time they reach the dealer, most have already decided on a brand, or more specifically, a model.