Cars.com Tapped As First Automotive Content Partner in Uber Advertising's New "JourneyTV Presents" In-Ride Entertainment Experience

Rhea-AI Summary

Cars.com (NYSE:CARS) has partnered with Uber Advertising as the first automotive content partner for their new "JourneyTV Presents" in-ride entertainment experience. The partnership enables Cars.com to deliver curated car shopping content to Uber riders, featuring a unique "Send to Phone" functionality that links directly to Cars.com's platform.

The collaboration marks Cars.com's first video content syndication partnership, leveraging their editorial expertise to reach potential car buyers. According to their Q2 2025 Consumer Metrics Survey, over 70% of Cars.com visitors are undecided on both vehicle make/model and dealership choice. The platform serves approximately 20,000 local dealer customers with comprehensive automotive content, including reviews, expert advice, and specialized reports like the American-Made Index and Best of Awards.

Positive

• First automotive content partner for Uber's JourneyTV Presents platform, expanding reach to new potential car buyers
• Integration of 'Send to Phone' functionality enables direct conversion path from Uber rides to Cars.com platform
• Strategic expansion of content distribution through first video syndication partnership
• Access to high-intent audience with 70% of visitors being undecided on vehicle choice

Negative

• None.

Insights

Digital Marketing Strategist

Cars.com's Uber partnership creates new customer acquisition channel with high-intent audiences, potentially driving significant marketplace traffic growth.

This partnership with Uber Advertising represents a strategic expansion of Cars.com's content distribution channels, positioning them to capture high-intent audiences during idle moments. The "JourneyTV Presents" integration is particularly valuable because it creates a frictionless conversion path through the "Send to Phone" functionality, connecting passive viewers directly to Cars.com's marketplace.

What makes this especially potent is the alignment with car shopper behavior patterns. With over 70% of Cars.com visitors undecided on make, model, and dealership, placing their editorial content earlier in the customer journey can influence decision-making before competitors enter the consideration set. This creates a valuable top-of-funnel customer acquisition strategy.

The partnership leverages Cars.com's existing content assets—reviews, expert advice, specialized reports like the American-Made Index—without requiring significant new investment. By syndicating this content to Uber's captive audience, Cars.com efficiently extends its reach while maintaining its differentiated editorial position against competitors.

This marks Cars.com's first video content syndication partnership, suggesting a broader strategic shift toward expanding distribution channels beyond owned properties. The emphasis on delivering "well-informed buyers" to their 20,000 dealer customers indicates this move aims to strengthen Cars.com's core marketplace value proposition by improving lead quality, not just quantity.

Cars.com's valuable editorial content delivers curated in-ride content for high-intent audiences on the move

CHICAGO, Sept. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Car shopping marketplace Cars.com Inc. (NYSE: CARS) today announced a partnership with Uber Advertising as its first automotive content partner for "JourneyTV Presents." The new in-ride entertainment experience enables Cars.com to provide Uber riders with curated and relevant car shopping content while they are on the go. The experience includes a unique "Send to Phone" functionality with a direct link to Cars.com, which offers a more seamless shopping path and stronger conversion flow.

"We are excited to continue our partnership and build on a number of previous advertising innovations that we have done with Uber Advertising. Cars.com is the first JourneyTV automotive content partner, which allows us to leverage our differentiated editorial content to reach a new attentive audience of potential car buyers well beyond the marketplace," said Jennifer Vianello, Chief Marketing Officer of Cars.com Inc. "Our editorial authority is a long-standing area of strength and expertise that engages shoppers early in their purchase journey and supports our ongoing, collective effort to expand traffic leadership."

The Uber Advertising in-ride experience is Cars.com's first video content syndication partnership. Cars.com's editorial content differentiates the company from its competitors in its extensiveness, in-house expertise and tonality of reviews and expert advice, which is built for real, ready-to-buy shoppers.

Research is a critical component in the car shopping journey. More than 70% of consumers who come to Cars.com are undecided on the make and model of the car they want to purchase.¹ Shoppers are equally indecisive about the local dealership they want to work with.¹ The trusted news and research content along with more than 13 million consumer-generated reviews on Cars.com are necessary tools to help guide shoppers for highly-considered purchases like cars.

Cars.com's proprietary car shopping content, which covers topics such as the most affordable cars, top family cars, best electric vehicles, used car shopping tips and the best cars for car seats, is developed by an esteemed group of in-house automotive experts and helps aid shoppers in one of life's biggest purchases. With unique reports such as American-Made Index, Best of Awards, Affordability Report and more, Cars.com's editorial content creates an easier path for researching and is seamlessly connected to the marketplace's shopping experience. This enables Cars.com to deliver well-informed buyers to its approximately 20,000 local dealer customers.

For more information, visit Cars.com/news.

¹ Cars.com Consumer Metrics Survey, Q2 2025

ABOUT CARS.COM^®
Cars.com is the No. 1 most recognized automotive marketplace visited by more than 25 million in-market consumers each month. Launched in 1998 and headquartered in Chicago, Cars.com empowers shoppers with the data, resources and digital tools needed to make informed buying decisions and seamlessly connect with automotive retailers. Cars.com is the flagship offering from Cars.com Inc. d/b/a Cars Commerce Inc., an audience-driven technology company empowering automotive that simplifies everything about buying and selling cars.

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SOURCE Cars.com Inc.

FAQ

What is Cars.com's new partnership with Uber Advertising in 2025?

Cars.com has become the first automotive content partner for Uber's 'JourneyTV Presents' in-ride entertainment experience, providing curated car shopping content to Uber riders with a direct 'Send to Phone' functionality to Cars.com's platform.

How many Cars.com visitors are undecided on their vehicle choice in 2025?

According to Cars.com's Q2 2025 Consumer Metrics Survey, more than 70% of consumers visiting Cars.com are undecided on both the make and model of the car they want to purchase.

How many dealer customers does Cars.com serve in 2025?

Cars.com serves approximately 20,000 local dealer customers through their marketplace platform.

What type of content does Cars.com provide through the Uber partnership?

Cars.com provides curated automotive content including information about affordable cars, top family cars, electric vehicles, used car shopping tips, car seat compatibility, and various specialized reports like the American-Made Index and Best of Awards.

What is unique about Cars.com's integration with Uber's JourneyTV?

The partnership features a unique 'Send to Phone' functionality that creates a direct link to Cars.com, offering a seamless shopping path and stronger conversion flow for Uber riders interested in car shopping.