Google Replaced Q&A With AI: What Dealerships Should Know

Google recently removed its Q&A feature, which allowed businesses to answer customer questions directly on their Google Business Profile. To stay visible, dealerships must now optimize their SEO strategies to address shopper queries across new AI-powered touchpoints.  

What’s Replaced Google Business Profile Q&A? 

Online shoppers can now engage with dealerships through Google’s AI Mode, a new Q&A feature on Google Maps, and soon, Siri powered by Gemini.  

Google’s AI Mode  

Unlike AI Overviews, Google’s AI Mode is a conversational experience that lets you “talk” to Google the same way you would with ChatGPT or Gemini. Google’s AI Mode adoption is slowly growing, with an 8% lead conversion rate and 10% of users regularly returning. 

AI Mode gives dealerships multiple ways to connect with shoppers. Instead of basic listings, search results for “dealerships near me” produce rich summaries that include key details and reviews. They can compare multiple dealers at once and dive deeper by asking the AI specific questions about amenities, ratings, and more. 

Q&A Feature on Google Maps 

Customers can also ask questions on Google Maps, but now AI answers instead of dealership staff. This is a challenge for managers who want to provide direct, tailored responses. 

Here’s what we know:  

• A “Know before you go” section highlights key dealership features 

• Users can ask the AI open-ended questions about your dealership 

• Suggested prompts encourage customer engagement 

Instead of scrolling through questions, a user can simply ask, “Does this dealership have a kids’ play area in the service lounge?” or “What are people saying about the trade-in process here?”      

Siri’s Partnership With Google Gemini 

On January 12, 2026, Google and Apple announced that Siri will be powered by Gemini AI, marking a major advancement in voice search SEO. Gemini overcomes Siri’s historical lack of precision by delivering comprehensive responses pulled from dealership websites and Google Business Profiles.  

With 20% of users researching dealerships via voice assistants like Siri and 59% reporting high satisfaction with AI-powered assistance, now is the time to optimize your presence. 

Why This Matters: ROI, Traffic, and Compliance 

These AI updates impact every level of your dealership: 

• ROI (Dealer Principal): AI visibility protects market share. Being Google’s top answer keeps your lead pipeline full and prospects away from competitors. 

• Traffic (Marketing Manager): AI drives higher-intent clicks. Shoppers who engage with AI Overviews before clicking are further along in their buying journey. 

• Compliance (Digital/Internet Manager): Aligning your digital presence with AI behavior and OEM standards maintains your professional brand image. 

How L2T Helps You Win in AI Search 

The shift to AI-driven search requires both technical precision and ongoing expertise. To keep dealers ahead of the curve, L2T’s SEO Specialists use the following AI-optimization tactics: 

• Schema Markup: Help AI understand your inventory, hours, and offers 

• Google Business Profile: Reviews are 27% of AI citations—we keep yours accurate and current 

• Semantic Content: Create helpful, locally-focused content optimized for AI 

• Technical Foundation: Ensure fast load times and clean site structure for AI crawling 

We don’t “set and forget.” With 83% of car buyers expecting AI to influence their next purchase, we ensure your data is clean and your reputation is protected—so when a customer asks Siri or Gemini for a recommendation, your dealership is the answer they get. 

Ready to dominate AI search? Contact L2T today.