Are automotive advertisers embracing mobile video advertising to target consumers? A new report says yes, in a big way.

Vdopia Inc. this week announced the launch of the Vdopia Mobile Insights series with the release of the first report, Vol. 1.1 Automotive Industry, offering its analysis of mobile video advertising by the auto industry.

Focused on the U.S. market, the 16-page report looks at areas related to auto mobile advertising including demographics such as age, gender and ethnicity; auto campaign objectives; type of vehicle advertised; targeting by geography, demographics and behavior; and advertiser type.

The report cites a 160 percent growth in mobile video ad spend by auto advertisers on the Vdopia network in the past year, along with a 251 percent growth in mobile video ad impressions for the auto category, and a three-fold increase in the number of automotive campaigns.

Other report highlights include:

— 17.5 million smartphone owners are likely to purchase a vehicle in the next six months

—54 percent of the mobile auto audience is Gen Y, between the ages of 18-34

—51 percent of mobile auto searches result in a purchase

"The launch of the VMI series is a significant step for Vdopia, strengthening our position as an innovative thought leader when it comes to mobile video and rich media advertising," said Saurabh Bhatia, founder and chief business officer for Vdopia.

"Automotive brands have embraced mobile video advertising, fueling significant growth in overall ad spend. This report confirms that mobile continues to drive a variety of goals for auto marketers. From launching a new car to offering special deals to event promotion, mobile is transforming how auto marketers connect and engage with consumers," Bhatia said.

The automotive industry is now the third largest vertical in terms of mobile ad spend on the Vdopia network, the company noted.

The Vdopia report can be downloaded at www.vdopia.com/mobile/about-us/vdopia-mobile-insights.