Online car and accessory sales are set to explode in popularity this year according to a survey by MyPoints Europe.

The company, a joint venture between internet operator MyPoints.com and retail giant GUS, surveyed more than 20,000 online shoppers. It found that, while books, videos, DVDs and music cds currently dominated online purchasing, consumers were now considering buying cars and automotive products via the internet.

In a statement, the company said: “At present, neither of these sectors is particularly renowned for its e-commerce presence, although leading players in each field are beginning to invest heavily in email and web advertising initiatives.”

The automotive sector attracting a rating of 294, calculated by comparing the number of consumers who purchase that product online today with the number that intend to within the next two years. A score above 100 represents a market sector with development potential.