Like the tendency to grab our favorite old sweaters, car buyers are also drawn to familiarity and affordability,

GM announced campaign with optimism and inclusion as main themes, since "those are the types of messages the world needs to hear moving forward."

With filming restrictions continuing, Toyota instead is relying on exterior shots of the vehicle coupled with disembodied voices.

Ford and other companies are interested to know what changes will stick after COVID-19, said Ford's Sheryl Connelly.

Toyota spent the most on TV advertising and subsequently garnered the most impressions, per iSpot.tv.

"The pandemic provided dealers with a wide-open path to allow different approaches to sell vehicles," says J.D. Power's Chris Sutton.

An openness to buying online has not wavered since June, despite dealerships reopening across the country.

Pre-pandemic familiarity was definitely a factor, with 71% choosing auto brands they have bought before, according to Invoca.

"We've learned a lot about the powerful potential for this kind of engaging brand content," Infiniti's Phil York tells "DriveTime."

I was backing out of my driveway and the vehicle sensed impending doom, namely my neighbor's shrub, and applied the brakes very hard.