In its newest issue, inSites – an umdasch content series exploring trends in spatial design – turns its attention to the automotive industry, focusing on how physical spaces are evolving in response to shifting customer expectations and technological change.
The publication examines how car dealerships and mobility hubs are rethinking their role in the customer journey. The traditional model of the sales floor and checkout is being challenged by digital services, omnichannel strategies, and an increasing emphasis on user experience. Showrooms are becoming less about transactions and more about brand experience and emotional engagement.
One key theme is the idea of placemaking – how spaces can be designed not just for function, but to tell stories, support interaction, and build long-term customer relationships. The automotive sector is beginning to adopt concepts familiar in retail and hospitality: sustainability, modularity, and immersive design.
Through interviews and case studies, the issue highlights examples where dealerships have evolved into multifunctional hubs, offering co-working areas, event spaces, or digital consultation zones. These approaches reflect broader shifts in consumer behavior and urban development, as well as the increasing importance of circular design and energy-conscious architecture.
Rather than predicting a single future for car retail, inSites paints a picture of a sector in transition, balancing tradition and innovation, physical presence and digital convenience.
By focusing on how space influences experience, this edition offers a timely look at the challenges and opportunities facing automotive brands as they navigate a rapidly changing landscape.
