Buying a car isn’t a snap decision—it’s a journey. And for 6 out of 10 shoppers, that journey starts without a clear destination. They’re browsing, comparing, and weighing their options, making it increasingly difficult for automotive brands to stand out. Traditional digital ads? Too easy to ignore.

To truly influence buying decisions, brands need interactive ad experiences—ones that grab attention, encourage exploration, and provide tangible value throughout the decision-making process.

The car buying journey: complex, long & riven by multiple touchpoints

Unlike everyday purchases, buying a car takes weeks, even months. According to Cox Automotive, most buyers take 6 to 8 weeks to make a decision, consulting up to 14 different sources before committing. They read reviews, watch videos, visit forums, and explore multiple brands before narrowing down their choices.

For marketers, the challenge is clear: Reaching buyers at the right time with content that matters. And that’s where interactive ad experiences come in.

The 5 stages of the car buyer’s journey

📌 Discovery – Exploring blogs, reviews, and ads to identify potential models.
📌 Evaluation – Comparing features, specs, and technology across brands.
📌 Affordability Check – Looking at pricing, financing, and trade-in options.
📌 Decision – Choosing a specific model and checking dealer availability.
📌 Purchase – Making the final move at a dealership.

Throughout this journey, brands need to stay relevant—delivering content that engages buyers at every step.

Why interactive ads? Because engagement drives sales

🚨 The problem with traditional display ads? They’re passive.
Buyers skim past them, barely engaging before moving on.

Interactive ads, on the other hand, demand attention. Whether through Augmented Reality (AR), 3D experiences, quizzes, or configurators, they invite users to participate—keeping them engaged longer and strengthening brand recall.

• What if a shopper could customize their ideal car in an ad?
• What if they could explore its interior in 360°?
• What if they could virtually “park” it in their driveway?

The more immersive and interactive the ad, the stronger the connection.

High-Impact interactive ads for Automotive brands

Aryel’s Creatives engage buyers at every stage of the funnel, ensuring they don’t just see your ad—they experience it.

• 3D Car Configurator – Let users explore vehicles in full 3D, customizing colors, trims, and features. More interaction = more time spent with your brand.
• 360° Car Interiors – Allow buyers to step inside and experience the interior from every angle. Emotional engagement helps them picture ownership.
• AR Car Viewer – Let shoppers visualize cars in their own environment, changing colors and seeing how the vehicle fits into their lifestyle. Integrated CTAs like “Book a Test Drive” convert digital curiosity into real-world action.

Beyond interactive ads: Insights that matter

Aryel goes beyond engagement—we track how users feel while interacting with your ads. By capturing emotional responses, facial expressions, and attention patterns, Aryel AI Insights delivers powerful first-party data to optimize ad effectiveness.

And with Sonar™, our GenAI-powered media planning tool, automotive brands can fine-tune ad delivery based on real user engagement data, ensuring that every impression is meaningful and every ad dollar is well spent.

The future of Automotive advertising is experience-driven

The way people shop for cars is evolving. Static banner ads aren’t enough anymore—buyers expect interactive, engaging experiences that help them make confident decisions. Whether it’s customizing a car in 3D, exploring a model in AR, or engaging with dynamic ads, interactive advertising is the future.

More engagement. More informed buyers. More conversions.

Ready to create ads that do more than just get seen? Explore Aryel’s interactive solutions and turn undecided shoppers into confident buyers.