Google now adds Call Assets to Vehicle Ads so shoppers can call dealers right from the ad.

Why we care. Vehicle Ads already attract high-intent buyers. Click-to-call removes friction at the exact moment they’re ready to speak with a dealer.

Screenshot 2026 01 07 At 18.39.45Screenshot 2026 01 07 At 18.39.45

The big picture. Automotive advertising is shifting toward immediacy. Buyers don’t want more forms. They want answers, availability, and a real person. Call-enabled Vehicle Ads shorten the path from search to conversation.

Between the lines. Advertisers now carry more responsibility. When the ad becomes the point of conversion, call handling, staffing, and response quality directly shape performance. Dealers that treat phone calls as a core conversion channel will win. Those who don’t will feel the drop-off.

First seen. Google Ads specialist Thomas Eccel spotted the update and shared it on LinkedIn.

Bottom line. Vehicle Ads didn’t just gain visibility. They moved closer to the sale.


Search Engine Land is owned by Semrush. We remain committed to providing high-quality coverage of marketing topics. Unless otherwise noted, this page’s content was written by either an employee or a paid contractor of Semrush Inc.


Anu AdegbolaAnu Adegbola

Anu Adegbola has been Paid Media Editor of Search Engine Land since 2024. She covers paid search, paid social, retail media, video and more.

In 2008, Anu started her career delivering digital marketing campaigns (mostly but not exclusively Paid Search) by building strategies, maximising ROI, automating repetitive processes and bringing efficiency from every part of marketing departments through inspiring leadership both on agency, client and marketing tech side. Outside editing Search Engine Land article she is the founder of PPC networking event – PPC Live and host of weekly podcast PPC Live The Podcast.

She is also an international speaker with some of the stages she has presented on being SMX (US, UK, Munich, Berlin), Friends of Search (Amsterdam, NL), brightonSEO, The Marketing Meetup, HeroConf (PPC Hero), SearchLove, BiddableWorld, SESLondon, PPC Chat Live, AdWorld Experience (Bologna, IT) and more.