Digital Marketing Automotive Trends for 2026

2026 is set to be another exciting year for the automotive sector, with evolving customer preferences, more vehicle choices, and new ways to connect and sell.

For organisations and retailers ready to embrace positive change, now is the chance to get it right and drive results today while building a better, stronger tomorrow.

At OCOCO Media, we work closely with motor trade clients across the UK and Europe, and from boardrooms to showrooms, we’re proud to partner with some of the brightest and best. Here’s our look at the biggest digital automotive trends – and potential wins - for retailers and brands in 2026.

Digital Automotive Trend 1 - Content That Drives Human Connection Is Key

Beyond glossy manufacturer content, and aspirational images, people buy cars from people, and at the heart of good social media marketing remains human connection.

Winning content is real, relatable and rewarding - it's the perfect mix that builds rapport, trust and value with potential buyers, and it's easier than you think to ensure you're achieving this winning formula.

In an increasingly competitive and noisy online world, clear communication will be highly effective in 2026 and short form video is a great way to share an impactful message. The average social media user scrolls at a rate of between 1.5 - 2.5 seconds, that's really not long to pass your content in feed. If you keep this as your core focus whenever recording video content, you'll be able to ensure it's engaging right from the start, and straightforward is best. Open on a shot of a salesperson with a vehicle, it frames the video, grabs attention, and creates an immediate human connection with your audience. It doesn't matter if your shot of an empty forecourt features a member of staff jumping out of a car boot after three seconds - your potential audience have already passed it by.

If you're keen to create sales-worthy social media content that delivers real leads and results, check out our fully online Automotive OCOCADEMY training programme. It's packed with best-practice expert advice.

Digital Automotive Trend 2 - Manufacturer Choice Widens

Emerging brands including JAECOO, BYD and Chery ranked among the top trending UK car searches in Google’s Year in Search 2025, signalling rising consumer awareness and interest beyond most established marques.

With even more models competing for buyers' attention, one key digital marketing trend for success will be educating audiences on the full scope of makes and models available to them. The most effective way of sharing this information online is through storytelling techniques, with a compelling narrative at their core. Ensure that you're representing brand values and features, as value-packed comms will work well this year for your brand and business. For easy local positioning, ensure you're photographing your stock "in the wild" at local landmarks, and featuring these images on your social media. They'll create instant connections with active-in-the-market customers in your areas.

Worth noting - the most Googled car of 2025? The Renault 5. The nostalgic OEM campaigns and art-inspired TV ads have resonated well - proof that capturing hearts and minds really can deliver substantial website traffic! If you're a Renault retailer reading this, ensure that you're creating original, engaging content to capitalise on this.

Digital Automotive Trend 3 - The Electric Revolution Continues...

Now is the time to drive a better future... For decades, car dealerships have been central to their local communities, providing job opportunities, and keeping their areas moving. Supporting these communities has always been a worthwhile investment, and in a world where consumers look for more from the companies they buy from, visible good business practice is essential.

That means ensuring that your values align with the priorities of your customer base, in a demonstrable way. Encouraging sales teams to live with and drive EVs, to give customers the best possible information on making the switch to electric, is a great first step. Going further by documenting their EV-learnings through your social media posts helps guide customers on their own journeys towards a hybrid or electric vehicle, and takes your digital communications to the next level – delivering relatable, digestible marketing messages.

If consumers see others making the transition from ICE to EV, locally, they’ve got social proof that it can be done, inspiring a change in behaviour, and building trust and rapport.

Key Automotive Social Media Marketing Opportunities for 2026

Stay in the fast lane… Take note of some of the biggest motoring occasions coming our way in 2026. With the right strategy, these events could present big opportunities for your brand: 

1 March Plate Change (26 reg)

5 July Formula 1 British Grand Prix 

19 - 26 July Goodwood Festival of Speed

21 - 23 August The British Motor Show

1 September Plate Change (76 reg)

9 September World EV Day

18 - 20 September Goodwood Revival

2 October Name Your Car Day

We look forward to seeing what 2026 will bring in the world of automotive marketing and we can’t wait to see which brands will be racing ahead at the end of the year! 

Ready to make 2026 a winning year for your business? Unlock Even Better with OCOCO Media ...

The secret to staying ahead of the curve for 2026? Having the right marketing support in place.

Contact us today for a complimentary consultation. If you’d like to equip your in-house team with all of the skills and confidence they need to drive a clear ROI with measurable sales from social media, or you’re keen to work with an expert outsourced partner with a demonstrable track record, the OCOCO Media team is here to help. We'd be delighted to hear from you and discuss how our digital marketing services can bring you closer to your customers, drive sales, and make a real difference to your automotive business.