ROMA – CarNext, the European online portal of quality used cars, has produced the first “Mobility Insights Report”, a survey that highlighted a renewed enthusiasm for the car owned, as well as the growing confidence in the online purchase of used cars . Among the main findings of the analysis is that car ownership has achieved high popularity over the past year, with 73% of the sample of European respondents saying they want to continue driving more even after the pandemic. In Italy, the number of consumers who consider the car as the main means of transport even in the post-Covid era has risen to 89%, a percentage higher than the European average. Furthermore, 57% of Italians surveyed are more likely to own a car today than in the pre-pandemic period, and only 10% are less favorable. Second-hand cars are gaining acclaim, especially among Millennials and 69% of Italian respondents have bought or considered the purchase of a used car in the last year, a percentage higher than the European average, which grows up to 80% among millennials (ages 24-35). Furthermore, just under half of the European sample (47% in Italy), declared that they are more favorable to buying a used car today than 5 years ago (85% is due to the possibility of finding superior quality used cars. on the market).
Another factor that emerges from the survey is the environmental awareness also present in the search for used cars: among Italians 8 out of 10 (in line with the European average) consider the environmental impact at the time of purchase to be important. In particular, 72% say they are more aware of sustainability since the start of the pandemic and 85% believe that this aspect will become even more relevant in the future. Consumer confidence in e-commerce as a used car sales channel is also growing and one user in three of the sample would consider buying a car online (40% in Italy, among the highest in Europe ). Among the reasons that influence the choice of Italians stand out the growing familiarity with online purchases developed in the last year (57%) and the convenience of comparing prices and reviews from home (54%). Finally, as regards the conditions of the cars considered for purchase, 80% of Italians prefer to buy a car that has an age of less than five years. “There is a renewed enthusiasm for car ownership and for driving in the new normal – said Dalisa Iacovino, country manager of CarNext Italia – with 1 interviewee out of 2 declaring they want to own a car due to the pandemic” . (maurilio rigo)
.