Importance of fuel economy rises, . . .
#1
11-25-2007, 06:16 AM
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 5,613
Importance of fuel economy rises, . . .
http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...,6789333.story
What I found interesting were the data points found within the article. The SUV market has gone from 890,000 in 2003 to 547,000 for 10 months of 2007, which projects to 656,000 for 2007. If 2006 was 1 percent lower, it should have come in at 650,000. But overall, we're looking at a 26 percent reduction in the large SUV market and then Toyota steps in.
Toyota SUVs, big gas guzzler that it may be, simply puts more pressure on the remaining and possibly shrinking, gas-only SUV market. It threatens the profit center of SUV makers.
Now I'm no fan of CNW Marketing but this is interesting, "CNW surveys about 14,000 consumers monthly on automotive-related issues and found fuel economy leaped as a buying consideration in the third quarter. It was rated important by 66 percent of shoppers, up from 57 percent last year and 22 percent in 2000, before gas prices came close to $3." Yet when looking at vehicles, CNW marketing gets it wrong again,"trade down from a Chevrolet Tahoe full-size SUV to a Chevy Cobalt compact sedan."
Add this one too, "Gone are the SUV-as-fashion-statement buyers, said Spinella. He said shoppers looking at SUVs are more likely now to ask about fuel economy than horsepower." Style, not function, seems to be CNW Marketing's point of view and that flavors every survey and report we hear from them.
Bob Wilson
By Rick Popely
Tribune staff reporter
November 24, 2007
As gas prices put under $3 a gallon in the rearview mirror, sales of small vehicles surged, but large sport-utility vehicles also gained.
Sales of full-size SUVs are up nearly 1 percent for the year, including 4 percent in October, despite persistently high gas prices and an industry trend toward downsizing.
. . .
Tribune staff reporter
November 24, 2007
As gas prices put under $3 a gallon in the rearview mirror, sales of small vehicles surged, but large sport-utility vehicles also gained.
Sales of full-size SUVs are up nearly 1 percent for the year, including 4 percent in October, despite persistently high gas prices and an industry trend toward downsizing.
. . .
. . . it remains a boon for automakers, who make more profit on an SUV than a small car.
That could explain why Toyota, for example, introduced a V-8-powered Sequoia full-size SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show . . .
. . . Carter added that Toyota also has to compete in all segments.
That could explain why Toyota, for example, introduced a V-8-powered Sequoia full-size SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show . . .
. . . Carter added that Toyota also has to compete in all segments.
Now I'm no fan of CNW Marketing but this is interesting, "CNW surveys about 14,000 consumers monthly on automotive-related issues and found fuel economy leaped as a buying consideration in the third quarter. It was rated important by 66 percent of shoppers, up from 57 percent last year and 22 percent in 2000, before gas prices came close to $3." Yet when looking at vehicles, CNW marketing gets it wrong again,"trade down from a Chevrolet Tahoe full-size SUV to a Chevy Cobalt compact sedan."
Add this one too, "Gone are the SUV-as-fashion-statement buyers, said Spinella. He said shoppers looking at SUVs are more likely now to ask about fuel economy than horsepower." Style, not function, seems to be CNW Marketing's point of view and that flavors every survey and report we hear from them.
Bob Wilson
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