Patriot Auto Group Lifts Showroom Visits 34% With Adwave CTV Ads

Patriot Auto Group added AI-generated connected TV ads from Adwave and recorded a 34% increase in showroom visits across four months according to Demand Gen Report.

Background and prior channels

The dealership operated two Tampa locations selling new and pre-owned vehicles. Its marketing mix consisted of Google Ads, third-party platforms including AutoTrader and Cars.com, and occasional radio. Third-party lead costs had risen from $32 to $45 per lead. Brand recognition beyond a 10-mile radius of each location remained near zero. Click-through rates on Google Display and Meta campaigns declined for three consecutive quarters.

Platform selection and launch

Patriot Auto Group selected Adwave after a referral from an Orlando dealership. The platform generates a 30-second commercial from a website URL and distributes it across more than 100 streaming channels. Officials cited three decision factors: campaigns begin at $50, AI creative completes in under two minutes, and ZIP-code or radius targeting is available. The campaign launched in November 2025 with a $2,500 monthly budget, equal to 14% of total marketing spend, aimed at adults 25-64 within a 30-mile radius of both locations.

Results after four months

Between November 2025 and February 2026, average monthly walk-ins rose from 410 to 549. Branded search queries increased 41%. Blended cost per sold unit fell from $150 to $108, an improvement of 28%. The share of customers traveling 15-30 miles grew to 32% of new customers. Google Ads cost per lead dropped 18%. Return on CTV ad spend reached 8x according to Demand Gen Report. The campaign treated CTV as an additive awareness layer rather than a replacement for search and social.

Measurement approach

Patriot Auto Group tracked outcomes through branded search trends, a dedicated landing page, CRM attribution, and Adwave campaign dashboards. Creative rotated every four to six weeks. Early signals such as branded search lifts appeared within 30 days, while showroom traffic changes emerged by month two or three.