The Next Gear: Turning Next-Gen Ad Formats into Marketplace Advantage | AutosBuzz 2026

As AI reshapes search, marketplaces risk losing visibility — unless they master the new wave of paid ad formats. Alex Melen, Co-Founder of SmartSites, will break down how marketplaces can seize the latest paid search opportunities to outperform one‑off dealer campaigns and deliver more value to partners by turning next-gen Vehicle Listing Ads into a competitive edge. From Google’s new Demand Gen + Product Feed integrations to Microsoft’s lower-cost VLA channels, and the first tests of ads inside AI-generated search results, Alex will show what’s coming next and what it means for your platform. Expect a practical playbook on how marketplaces can monetize inventory more effectively, deliver more value to dealers, and avoid being bypassed as consumers shift their journeys into AI-powered search.