The wholesale rush of car buying online has jangled traditional auto dealers, forced them to rethink their business models and nudged many into exiting the business altogether. But for those dealers who stick around, the takeover by e-commerce during the pandemic ironically may provide a big benefit.

Young consumers are more likely to trust the auto sales process the more that it moves online. "For younger Americans," the rise of automotive e-commerce "has elevated trust," said Joanna Piacenza, head of industry intelligence for Morning Consult. Her insight is based in part on a new survey conducted by the Washington, D.C.-based market-research firm of 4,400 adults to gauge their trust in the auto industry and how it’s built — and hurt.

"It’s meeting them where they are. They’re used to conducting sales on their phone. Don’t make them get up and go to a car dealership. They’re used to the online platform. And if they’re suspicious about anything, they know exactly how to go on the web site where they can gut-check something. They’re used to this interface. It’s going to increase their trust in the industry."

On the other hand, Piacenza said, the U.S. automakers’ growing problem with microchip shortages is eroding trust by consumers in the entire industry and in specific brands. As the shortages continue to whack the output of the companies’ factories — depleting inventories, strapping selection, delaying deliveries and inflating prices — would-be car buyers are getting increasingly frustrated, she said.

"There’s a growing risk not necessarily of distrust but of consumer dissatisfaction with not getting the product they’ve saved up for and want to buy," Piacenza said. "It’s not available because of the supply chain." She predicted the car shortage "will get worse before it gets better" and that if consumers "didn’t buy a car during the pandemic surge, you should probably wait until after the chip shortage is over."