A new global survey of car buying habits has found the Internet is now a key component in the buying process of the vast majority of car buyers. More and more of the research and preliminary enquires on a car purchase are now taking place on-line.

The Cars Online 08/09 annual research report by Capgemini looked at buying patterns in various emerging and mature car-buying markets across the world. It found a 75% increase in the number of respondents using the Internet as their primary source of information on vehicle purchasing, as compared to a year ago. It also said that well over 50% of those surveyed said they would be less likely to buy from a company without an online presence. More than half also said they would buy parts and accessories online.