Google I/O 2025: Navigating the future of search with AI Mode and AI Overviews expansion for automotive

Google I/O 2025 has once again delivered a look into the future of Google technology, with Artificial Intelligence taking centre stage. For car manufacturers and dealers across the globe, understanding the implications of “AI Mode” in Google Search is paramount. This new evolution of search has the potential to reshape how customers find vehicles, your physical locations, and interact with your online presence.

What is AI Mode? 

AI Mode represents a significant departure from traditional Google Search, moving beyond a simple list of links to a more conversational, intelligent, and personalised experience. Powered by a custom version of Gemini 2.5, AI Mode aims to provide users with direct, synthesised answers to complex queries, often in a chatbot-style format. 
 
This is the next step in the evolution of AI Overviews, which introduced AI-powered summaries to Google Search results. 

Key functionalities of AI Mode include: 

• Conversational search: Users can engage in natural language exchanges, asking follow-up questions and refining their search criteria in a dynamic dialogue with the AI. This is a departure from entering isolated keywords. 

• Advanced reasoning and deep search: AI Mode leverages a “query fan-out technique”, breaking down complex questions into multiple subtopics and issuing hundreds of simultaneous searches across the web. This allows it to generate comprehensive, expert-level reports with extensive citations, saving users hours of research. 

• Personalisation: With user permission, AI Mode can integrate with other Google services like Gmail and past search history to provide highly tailored recommendations. For example, if a user has searched for electric SUVs in the past, AI Mode might factor that into future vehicle-related queries. 

• Multimodality: Beyond text, AI Mode can process queries that include images or even real-time camera input (via “Search Live”), allowing users to ask questions about objects they see. 

• Visualisations and agentic capabilities: AI Mode can generate custom charts from complex data, and in some cases, act as an “agent” to complete tasks like tracking product prices, making purchases (with user review and confirmation), or even booking appointments. While agentic checkout and virtual try-ons are initially rolling out in the US for certain products, the underlying capabilities could evolve for other industries. 

The impact on search for car manufacturers and dealers 

While the initial rollout of AI Mode is focused on the US, Google’s history suggests a global expansion will follow. Here’s what car manufacturers and dealers need to consider for their search strategy: 

The impact on search for car manufacturers and dealers 

While the initial rollout of AI Mode is focused on the US, Google’s history suggests a global expansion will follow. Here’s what car manufacturers and dealers need to consider for their search strategy: 

1. Shift from keywords to conversational queries: Customers will likely ask more detailed, conversational questions like “What are the most fuel-efficient SUVs for a family of five that can handle off-road conditions?” or “Show me luxury sedans with advanced driver-assistance features available in [your country/city].” Your website content should be structured to answer these complex, natural language questions directly and comprehensively. 
2. Importance of comprehensive and authoritative content: AI Mode prioritises authoritative and in-depth content. This means your website shouldn’t just list specs, but also provide detailed explanations, comparisons, and expert insights. Think blog posts, comprehensive vehicle guides, and articles that address common customer concerns and questions. 
3. The “citation economy”: Instead of just ranking high, the goal will be to be cited by AI Mode. This means producing content that AI deems trustworthy and relevant enough to include in its summarised answers. High-quality content with strong factual backing, clear headings, and logical structure will be crucial. 
4. Beyond blue links: reduced direct website clicks? For informational queries, AI Mode may provide a complete answer directly within the search results, potentially reducing direct clicks to your website. However, Google states that AI Overviews (the precursor to AI Mode) have driven increased search engagement and that users who click through from AI responses often spend more time on cited sites. The challenge will be to ensure your content is compelling enough to encourage that click-through for deeper engagement or transactional intent. 
5. Enhanced local SEO: While specific details for car dealers are still emerging, AI Mode’s focus on personalisation and its potential to incorporate real-time and locational context means robust local SEO efforts will become even more vital. Ensure your Google Business Profiles are meticulously updated with accurate inventory, services, and opening hours. Content localised to specific regions or cities can also be highly beneficial. 
6. Visual and multimodal optimisation: As AI Mode embraces images and potentially video, car manufacturers and dealers should invest in high-quality visual content. This includes detailed vehicle images, 360-degree views, walk-around videos, and even augmented reality experiences if applicable. Optimising image metadata will also be important for AI to understand and utilise your visual assets. 
7. Adapting to “agentic” shopping: While agentic checkout and virtual try-ons are currently focused on general products, the underlying technology could eventually impact how cars are researched and purchased (although I suspect this will likely be far into the future). Consider how your website could integrate with future agentic features, such as providing structured data for vehicle configurations, pricing, and availability that an AI agent could use to assist a customer. 

Global expansion of AI Overviews 

Google is rapidly expanding the reach of AI Overviews. As of May 2025, AI Overviews are available in over 200 countries and territories and support more than 40 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Malay, and Urdu. Google reports that user satisfaction and search frequency have increased in regions where AI Overviews are implemented, although that performance is still being debated in the SEO industry.  

In the US and India, Google has observed a 10% increase in search usage for queries that display AI Overviews. This widespread rollout indicates Google’s commitment to AI-powered search as a global phenomenon. 

Preparing your websites and content for the AI mode era 

For car manufacturers and dealers operating outside the US, now is the time to prepare for the inevitable widespread adoption of AI Mode. Here’s a strategic approach: 

• Audit your existing content: Identify gaps in your content that prevent you from answering complex, conversational queries about your vehicles. Look for opportunities to create more in-depth guides, comparisons, and educational resources. 

• Embrace semantic SEO: Move beyond a pure keyword focus and consider semantic relationships and topics. Ensure your content fully addresses user intent rather than simply matching keywords. 

• Structure your data: Implement structured data (Schema Markup) on your website to help AI understand your content more effectively. 

• Prioritise E-A-T (expertise, authoritativeness, trustworthiness): Google’s AI models are designed to identify and prioritise high-quality, trustworthy information. Ensure your website demonstrates clear expertise in the automotive sector, is authoritative in its claims, and builds trust with your audience. 

• Invest in high-quality visuals: As AI becomes more multimodal, compelling images and videos will play an even larger role in attracting and engaging users. 

• Monitor and adapt: Stay informed about Google’s updates to AI Mode and its global rollout. Continuously monitor your website’s performance in search and adapt your strategies as the AI landscape evolves. 

The rise of AI Mode marks a transformative period for Google Search. By proactively understanding its capabilities and adapting your online presence, car manufacturers and dealers can ensure they remain visible, relevant, and engaging for customers in this new era of AI-powered search.