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Global Consumer Trends Diverge

Price remains a top consideration for U.S. car buyers, and they are the most brand-loyal consumers to established automakers, according to a new survey.

November 3, 2026
Small black toy car on top of a map.

Consumers who have test-driven an electric vehicle are over twice as willing to consider purchasing one than those who have not.

Credit:

Pexels/Mihis Alex

2 min to read


Consumers across the globe are changing the way they shop for their next vehicles, but according to a new survey, those changes vary by region.

Bain & Co. surveyed more than 12,000 car buyers worldwide and found that price is the top consideration for consumers buying a car in the U.S. and Europe. But in China, technology and features rank No. 1.

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Across the world, younger buyers showed the strongest interest in electric vehicles, but in China the willingness to shop electric was high across all generations. Consideration grew for consumers who said they have test-driven an EV, but mass-market buyers in the U.S. and Europe are less likely to have tried an EV than premium buyers.

Consideration for autonomous-driving technology is also stronger in China than in the U.S. and Europe, 84% of Chinese consumers expressing openness to buying a vehicle with Level 3 autonomy versus 40% in the U.S. Level 3 autonomy “allows a car to drive itself under certain conditions but requires the driver to take over when prompted.”

The management consulting firm posited that a greater interest in autonomous driving could weaken traditional brand loyalty. It found that premium buyers in the U.S. and Europe were “particularly open to changing brands,” while consideration was at its greatest in China.

When it comes to how car buyers shop, 80% of global respondents combined online and offline interactions in their buying journeys. However, 95% of Chinese car buyers reported using online and offline channels.

But brick-and-mortar dealerships still hold value. Ninety percent of global consumers said they complete their purchases offline, while more than half of buyers in the U.S., Europe and China reported having at least two interactions with dealers throughout their car-buying journey.

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And artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly important role in how consumers shop, especially among younger generations.

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