There have been a lot of articles lately saying "Gas Prices are Not Affecting Consumer Habits" and that prices will have to go much higher before people abandon SUVs for trips to the corner store. This survey shoots some huge holes in that point of view. ------------------ http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories....02183516&EDATE= * Nearly 2 out of 3 Survey-Takers Say They'd Be Less Inclined to Buy a Truck/Large SUV Today Than Last Summer; Only 3.6% Say They'd Be More Inclined * Requests to Buy SUVs/Trucks Drop Dramatically, While Requests for Smaller Passenger Cars Rise Sharply - Bucking Years-Long Industry Trends * Roughly Half of Those Polled Say Gas Prices Will Affect Their Voting Decisions; Vast Majority Favor Stricter C.A.F.E. Standards and Higher Tax Incentives for Hybrids IRVINE, Calif., May 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Late-breaking Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq: ABTL) consumer purchase request data suggests that rising prices at the pump may be having a more substantial impact on consumer buying patterns than many industry analysts are predicting. Autobytel's Consumer Choice data reveals that online requests to purchase trucks and SUVs are down substantially, while those for smaller, more fuel-efficient passenger cars are sharply on the rise -- findings that may soon be playing out on the showroom floor as summer sales season kicks off this Memorial Day weekend. As the most visited new car buying and research destination on the web, attracting an average of 7.7 unique monthly visitors in 2003, Autobytel offers a uniquely comprehensive perspective on online auto consumer trends and attitudes. Big Fossil-Fuel Guzzling SUVs May Be Going the Way of the Dinosaur (at Least Online) According to Autobytel Consumer Choice data,* big, gas-thirsty SUVs (those that receive less than 20 MPG) -- which have seen spectacular success in the auto market these last few years -- are now taking a major hit online despite ramped up factory incentives, with requests for large SUVs down 20% since January. Overall, the SUV category, including small SUVs, is down 13%, with the only SUV models clocking any gains being the fuel-friendly Saturn VUE and Honda CR-V. * Autobytel Consumer Choice data measures the top-20 most requested models in each vehicle category (SUVs, trucks, passenger cars, etc.) since January 1st, 2004. Big Trucks/SUVs by Model: * Requests for the Chevy Tahoe are down 26% * Cadillac Escalade requests are down 25% * Ford Expedition requests are down 22% * GMC Yukon requests are down 18% * Dodge Durango down 15% * Hummer H2 requests are down 16%, losing share each month since January Requests for pickup trucks, similarly, have dipped 21%, while those for passenger cars are up 8% -- a stark reversal of Autobytel consumer trends during the last couple of years. Requests for the perennial best-selling vehicle in America, Ford's full-sized, redesigned F150, are down 20%, while Chevy's full-sized pickup Silverado, a traditional Autobytel favorite, is down a precipitous 48%. Requests for the popular Dodge Ram are also down 16.5%. On the other hand, requests for cars averaging higher than 25 MPG (hwy) have led the passenger car resurgence on Autobytel sites, generating a 33% increase in requests to buy since January. A LOOK AT SOME SMALLER, MORE FUEL-EFFICIENT CARS, BY MODEL * Requests for the Honda Civic are up 37% * MINI Cooper requests are up 33% * Toyota Corolla and ECHO requests are both up 10% * Saturn Ion requests are up 10% * And the hybrid offering from Toyota, the Prius, currently leads all new-vehicle purchase request gains at Autobytel sites -- with a staggering 73% rise in requests. A Market Microcosm: "MINI" David Strikes Blow to "Hummer" Goliath: Last year, the "David and Goliath" brands of the auto market, MINI and Hummer, tied for the largest overall increase in requests-to-buy among Autobytel shoppers -- with each enjoying a 255% increase in requests in 2003. But a quick look at the battle between the makers of the little coupe and the big SUV since January reveals that David is now handily slaying the once-mighty Goliath in the marketplace, with requests for the MINI Cooper up 33% and requests for the Hummer H2 down 16%. The MINI's recent dominance comes despite new incentives on the H2 and the pending launch of a Cooper convertible, which would presumably initiate a "wait-and-see" period for many prospective MINI buyers. AUTOBYTEL'S CONSUMER VOICE SURVEY New Online Poll Suggests the Continued "Greening" of the Marketplace According to the latest Autobytel Consumer Voice survey,** these trends may signal the shape of things to come, with 45% of current Autobytel shoppers saying they will shop for a smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle during their next vehicle purchase, and nearly 1 in 5 indicating they will seriously consider purchasing a hybrid vehicle next. Sixty-five percent said they'd be willing to sacrifice some interior space for better fuel efficiency, while 62% said they'd be willing to sacrifice performance. Industry analysts are quick to point out that high gas prices don't actually translate into major car owner costs, but they may be missing the more important phenomenon -- namely a shift in consumer perceptions/tastes that may signal the beginning of a new marketing cycle. Consider: 63% of Autobytel shoppers said they'd personally feel proud to drive a hybrid vehicle, while 45% said they'd feel self-conscious behind the wheel of a very large SUV. Moreover, 65% said they'd be less inclined to buy a truck or large SUV than they were a year ago, while only 3.6% said they'd be more inclined to buy a truck/large SUV today. ** Consumer Voice Surveys conducted on Autobytel's web sites between May 12th and May 24th. THE POLITICS OF CAR BUYING America's Drivers "Cast Their Votes" on Auto-Related Political Issues, With Most Favoring Stricter C.A.F.E. Standards and Higher Incentives on Hybrids With energy/automotive issues shaping up to be centerpieces of the unfolding presidential election, the latest Autobytel Consumer Voice survey also asked Autobytel's car shoppers to sound off on hot-button topics ranging from C.A.F.E. standards to global warming. Although web site demographics skew slightly Republican, most respondents actually came down on the "progressive/liberal" side of most of the issues presented. Over 75% of those surveyed, for example, favor stricter C.A.F.E. standards, with over 70% endorsing higher incentives on hybrids, and nearly 60% going so far as to call for government regulation of fuel prices. More than 55% of respondents, meanwhile, said they believe that a global warming phenomenon, caused by a build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is already occurring, with only 22% saying they don't believe it's occurring and 22% remaining undecided. Seventy one percent of survey takers anticipate that gas prices will continue to rise throughout the summer, with consumers essentially split on the issue of whether continued high gas prices will affect their presidential vote in November. Most respondents (nearly 50%) feel that oil companies -- by creating an artificial scarcity -- are the primary cause of the current gas price hikes. Notably, self-identified Democrats and Republicans both indicated a strong readiness to "go hybrid," with 69% of Democrats and 52% of Republicans saying they would consider buying a hybrid during their next vehicle purchase. For complete Autobytel Consumer Choice and Consumer Voice information, contact Melanie Webber, Autobytel Inc. 949.862.3023. About Autobytel Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq: ABTL), a leading Internet automotive marketing services company, helps retailers sell cars and manufacturers build brands through marketing, advertising, data and CRM (customer relationship management) products and programs. The Company owns and operates the automotive websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com, Car.com and AutoSite.com, as well as AIC (Automotive Information Center), a trusted industry source of automotive marketing data and technology for over 20 years. Autobytel is also a leader in dealership lead management and CRM solutions and owns and operates AVV, Inc., a top provider of dealership CRM and sales management products, and Retention Performance Marketing, Inc., (RPM®), which powers dealerships with cutting-edge customer loyalty and retention marketing programs. As the Internet's largest new car buying service, Autobytel generates over a billion dollars a month in car sales for dealers through its services and was the most visited new car buying and research destination in 2003, reaching millions of car shoppers as they made their vehicle buying decisions. Autobytel's car-selling sites and lead management products are used by more of the nation's top-100 e-dealers than any other program. SOURCE Autobytel Inc. Web Site: http://www.Autobytel.com
Despite everyone's best efforts in the media to poo-poo our car, the interest is definitely still there. There was a brief lull in conversation last night at the bar with some friends from a show I'm doing, and one of the guys jumped in and said "So, explain your car to me!" I was a little surprised that everyone showed enough interest to make it beer-worthy conversation, but I answered questions for a good ten minutes.
A security guy at my work did the 20 questions thing with me this morning about the car in the parking lot. He then said "More power to you". That made me happy... Better than yesturday when a SUV tried to run me off the road, :cussing: It was heavy traffic and there are two left turn lanes to get on to an alternative route/back road to Livermore. He was in the inner left turn land I was in the outer left turn lane. I was glad I was going slow because as soon as I turned on to my lane :guns: the SUV moved into my lane as if his did not exist :cussing: I had to hit the breaks...he just sped off. shona
Of course, given the sales numbers for them last year, 73% isn't as big as it might seem Still, a very good thing, until I order my 2005 and can't get it because of the 73% rise in interest ;-)
I'm glad you avoided it. Similar thing happened to me. 2 left turn lanes and 2 straight coming off the interstate. Volvo stopped at the red in the left straight lane, 9 at night on a Sunday, no other cars in the vicinity. Signal changed as I came off. I stayed in the right lane still doing about 35. He crossed the intersection as I came up beside him and forced me into the curb. It was either that or scrape off our mirrors and paint. Blew both right side tires. The :cussing: basxard had the nerve to blast his horn at ME as he drove on! I limped into the convenient parking lot and called AAA. I sometimes wish I had held my lane. Would have heavily damaged both cars, but he would have had to pay not me!! At least the rims weren't damaged.
In an odd way, I think comparing the drop in Hummer sales to the rise in Mini sales is appropriate: I think they're both "trendy" cars, i.e., a lot of their sales are due to them being (or having been) Flavor of the Month. Maybe some Prius sales are due to the likes of Tom Hanks and Cameron Diaz making the car seem "hot"; but I see very, very little of that on this board. Mostly it's techy, green or gas savings reasons (probably in that order.)
I can tell you that from my side of the fence, things are frustrating. I get a certain amount of emails a day for requests on new and used cars. The Prius requests are amazingly high. Meaning, for me, if I get 50 car requests a day, 20 are for Prius. I have been taking names and numbers from folks on Prius and offering 2005/2006 cars eventually, but no promises. My requests for vehicles like Sequoia, Tundra, and Landcruiser are way down... but that said, Toyota's also shipping fewer V8's as well. Wish they'd do something about this horrible shortage of Prius. It's a real downer. Dianne
Tell me about it. I start a new job next week, which involves driving 45 miles each way. I had my old car stolen a couple months ago, and have been waiting for a Prius ever since. I can't justify a car that gets 20-30 MPG when I can afford a Prius. But for my best efforts, all I get is "not yet - call back in a few weeks!". I can't even RENT one!
Dianne I have heard that Toyota is opening a second Prius factory in August. Is there any truth to this,that you know of?
