Drivers seek mileage boost despite cheaper fuel (Reuters)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The sharp drop in gasoline prices since last summer has not erased concern about pump prices or U.S. dependence on foreign oil, and most American drivers list fuel economy as important in future vehicle purchases, a consumer group said on Tuesday.

"The persistence of great concern about gas prices and dependence on oil imports shows a strong base of public support for significant improvements in motor vehicle fuel economy," said Mark Cooper, Research Director for the Consumer Federation of America.

The group surveyed 1,000 adult Americans and found 76 percent were concerned about gasoline prices and 76 percent worried about America's dependence on oil supplies from the Middle East.

As a result, those polled said they intended their next car purchased to get at least 30 miles per gallon, an average 5 miles per gallon more than their current vehicle.

But Copper said consumers will be "sorely disappointed" when they go to dealerships looking for fuel-efficient cars.
***
more: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE5125L220090203

[Skink]

1. Prices go up every summer. Even now with oil going down prices are rising.

[liberal N proud]

2. I know that if I ever can afford a new car, gas mileage will be on top of the list

I filled my car this week for less than $20 - $1.59/gal I took both cars to the station to catch that deal.

But it sure feels nice to have some of that cash that we was being skimmed from out pockets a few month ago. I will continue to try to find ways to save even more.

[skids]

3. But but but....

Didn't I just read a news article corporate PR about how consumers were returning to buying pickups and SUVs now that pump prices are back down?

What would the world look like if something had to be true to be news? I wonder sometimes...

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. A survey of preferences may not reflect purchases

You, know, like, "I'd really like a hybrid, but …"

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gsz39lpYrNG7OiKs3FJt6jhV6NEwD964ILI00

US auto sales in reverse, plunge to 26-year low

By KIMBERLY S. JOHNSON and TOM KRISHER – 8 hours ago

DETROIT (AP) — Automakers started 2009 in reverse.

…

Chrysler attributed part of its 66 percent drop in car sales and 49 percent decline in truck sales to a shortage of affordable credit for its customers, noting that the $1.5 billion federal loan for its financing arm wasn't received until the second half of the month.

…

(Car sales down more than truck sales.)

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-business/toyota-us-sales-fall-344-in-january-20090204-7x0i.html

Toyota US sales fall 34.4% in January

February 4, 2009 - 6:54AM

Japan's Toyota said on Tuesday its US sales slid 34.4 per cent on a daily selling basis compared with a year ago as the world's biggest economy felt the impact of a massive economic slump.

…

For its Toyota division, car sales fell 21.6 per cent and truck sales including sport utility vehicles slumped 37.7 per cent compared with January 2007 levels.

Even the popular Prius hybrid car saw a 31.4 per cent year-over-year drop in sales.

…

(Car sales down less than truck sales, Prius sales down more than "car" sales.)

http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=74&docid=51817

FOR RELEASE: 2009-02-03

GM Reports 129,227 Deliveries in January

…

DETROIT - Driven by an 80 percent reduction in fleet sales, General Motors dealers in the United States delivered 129,227 vehicles in January, down 49 percent compared with a year ago. Retail sales were off 38 percent, but retail market share held steady compared with December. GM's retail share performance was assisted by reduced-rate APR financing capacity through GMAC and a GM loyalty cash offer. GM January total car sales of 43,943 were off 58 percent and total truck sales (including crossovers) of 85,284 were down 42 percent compared with a year ago. Additionally, retail sales for GM cars and crossovers combined were about 65 percent of sales mix in the month.

…

(Car sales down more than truck sales.)

[skids]

5. No actually...

GM and Chrysler were the only companies that had really bad car sales.

Everyone else and the industry as a whole saw cars hold their market
share more firmly than trucks. GM and Chrysler were suffering on the
car front especially due to rental car businesses holding back on fleet
replacement.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/02/us-ldv-sales-fa.html

As to the Prius it looked like Honda was going to eat their lunch until
they wised up and decided to keep selling the current generation
alongside the new even-more-tricked-out model. Eventually maybe they
will also realize they should try a cheap hybrid corolla or something,
because this hybrid-as-a-luxury-status-symbol thing is getting pretty
old, and they are as much to blame for keeping it that way as they
are afloat on market trends. People want mileage but they are looking
at is from an MPG/dollar standpoint, and don't really care about
bluetooth phones and other gadgets Toyota has been cramming into even
the base option package.

[OKIsItJustMe]

6. A narrow majority (51.9%) of vehilces sold were "Light-duty trucks"

That doesn't sound like much of a green revolution to me.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/02/us-ldv-sales-fa.html

…

Year-on-year sales of passenger cars dropped 36.3% to 315,863 units in January, while sales of light trucks dropped 37.8% to 341,113 units. Light-duty trucks claimed a 51.9% new vehicle share for the month.

…

Check out the correlation of gas price to vehicle choice.

As the price of gas goes down, people buy more trucks. (Just what the industry said.)

What I've said for years was, "So long as SUV's are the most popular vehicle sold, gas prices are too low."

[skids]

7. Seasonal

Check out the winter spikes. Considering car sales only recently grabbed back the annual lead, we can expect the winter truck sale spike to break back above 50% at this point.

GM and co aren't dumb. They know the seasonal trends. So they know exactly when the data will "support" baseless PR assertions designed to prop up their stock price.

[OKIsItJustMe]

8. If you say so

Personally, I think (as you say) "GM and co aren't dumb."

If they see sustained consumer demand for smaller more efficient vehicles, they'll build 'em as fast as they can.