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Sensor Tower · Seema Shah · November 2022

Car-Buying Apps Hit Some Potholes

US car-buying apps are experiencing falling monthly downloads and monthly active users (MAUs), according to Sensor Tower estimates. The decline is attributed to a more cautious consumer base, weakened by rising rates, inflation, and falling used car prices, leaving buyers underwater on their loans. Cohort MoM downloads and MAUs slid 5.4% and 1.5%, respectively, while average session count and average time spent decreased by 31% and 37% per month YTD 2022 through September from the prior year.

Car-Buying Apps Hit Some Potholes

Key Takeaways:

  • Per Sensor Tower estimates, sequential US monthly downloads and MAUs are falling for most car-buying apps, likely driven by a more cautious consumer base weakened by a combination of rising rates, inflation and falling used prices leaving buyers underwater on their loans

    • October 2022 estimates highlight weakness on a MoM and YoY basis

      • Cohort MoM downloads and MAUs slid 5.4% and 1.5%, respectively

      • September US retail sales for autos down -0.4% from August

  • US consumers are visiting less frequently and spending fewer minutes on car-buying apps, according to Sensor Tower Consumer Intelligence; weakened engagement increases the risk of fewer transactions

    • Average session count and average time spent decreased an average of 31% and 37% per month YTD 2022 through September from the prior year

For more information, request the full report from reports@sensortower.com.


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Seema Shah

Written by: Seema Shah, VP, Insights

Date: November 2022