Bengaluru leads pack in search queries for automobiles

Google search data reveals 2015 saw 40% increase in queries related to automakers, brands in India; queries on used cars grew 200%

Maximum number of search queries for automobiles on Google came from cities other than four metros — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata — while Bengaluru, the IT capital of India, emerged top with maximum searches in 2015.

According to Google's search results, overall searches for automakers and models grew 40% in 2015, across the desktop as well as smartphone platforms. The four metros accounted for around 35% of all search results while the remaining emerged from smaller cities and towns. Interestingly, search interest around 'used cars' also saw a strong pickup during the year, with a growth of over 200% over the previous year.

City-wise, while the maximum number of search queries in the segment were originated from Bengaluru, it was closely followed by Delhi. Among the non-metros, the second highest search results were recorded from Pune, followed by Hyderabad. Interestingly, both these cities recorded more searches than Kolkata.

Search interest was driven by Tier II and tier III cities. Tier II cities showed 30% growth in search queries.

In run up to the Auto Expo, Google search results during the past 30 days showed that Maruti continued to capture the top slot in terms of search interest closely followed by Mahindra & Mahindra. Both the brands had a strong lead over other auto majors such as Honda, Tata, Hyundai, Renault, Ford, Toyota and Volkswagen.

Based on the early data available for 2016, searches around this year's Auto Expo are almost double when compared to the previous Auto Expo in 2014. New launches and announcements from automakers is expected to further fuel search interest over the next few weeks.