German Car Dealerships Turn to Digital Configurators Amid Auto Industry Shift

In Germany, the auto‑retail sector is rapidly digitising. By 2025 roughly 35 % of new‑car purchases were completed online, and 20‑25 % of buyers use a hybrid approach that combines online configuration with in‑person dealership assistance. CD‑Systeme GmbH of Herne has launched a dealer‑focused vehicle configurator that lets German dealers integrate manufacturer tools while retaining control of local offers. The move comes as Germany’s 40 000 car dealerships confront mounting pressures from the mobility transition, rising production costs, supply‑chain bottlenecks, intensified competition and a tightening regulatory environment.

Across the nearby market, Austria’s auto industry faces similar challenges. With about 35 000 employees and 80 % of output exported, Austrian manufacturers remain heavily reliant on combustion‑engine expertise and must develop new capabilities in batteries and fuel‑cells. Researchers highlight the country’s strong rail sector – a global leader in track‑laying machinery and rail patents – as a potential growth engine, estimating up to 230 000 rail‑related jobs could be created by 2040 if state‑coordinated industrial policy supports the shift from cars to rail infrastructure.