Which is one main reason I say GM is doing a bad move to focus on trucks only. Read on.
The number of vehicle shoppers considering an SUV has fallen to 34 percent, the lowest level in the three years of a the Kelley Blue Book's annual New-Vehicle Buyer Attitude Study on SUVs.
The only segment among sport utilities to see any growth in interest is small SUVs, according to a Kelley news release. Interest in purchasing a mid-size or full-size SUV decreased, and luxury SUVs remained flat.
According to Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research and recent sales figures, interest in SUVs is rapidly declining and the high price of fuel is a major cause. Last year, the study showed that shoppers' top reason for not considering an SUV was that it was not the type of vehicle they were interested in. This year, the No. 1 reason for not considering an SUV is the escalation of gas prices. The percentage of those citing fuel prices as a major reason to reject SUVs was up eight points from last year to 61 percent. This concern over fuel prices also has broadened to an unease over SUVs' effect on the country's dependence on foreign oil. In fact, 37 percent of shoppers in the study said that U.S. dependence on foreign oil is a major reason they are not considering an SUV.
"Consumers can expect red, white and blue-themed auto sales events this Fourth of July weekend, and in the current market they will be accompanied by big incentives on larger sport utility vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Chevy Tahoe," said Jack R. Nerad, editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. "Promotions like the GM's 'You Pay What We Pay' will help sales of these vehicles in the short-term, but over the longer term the domestic car manufacturers will have to reconcile themselves to the fact that American consumers seem less enamored of big SUVs than any time in memory."
"With lackluster interest in SUVs and the price of gas likely to hit new highs again this year, a glut of SUVs likely will mean better deals for consumers on both the new and used side of the business," said Nerad. "Consumers already are seeing great deals on two- to five-year-old large SUVs, and the savings often are more than enough to offset the fuel price increase."
KBB
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-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
why just american? Nearly every car manufacturer now has at least a midsized suv.
^Two words: Sales volume.
American trucks sell at a rate of 200,000-300,000+ units a year. While the rest see well well under 100,000 a year.
>>>For Sale? Clicky!<<<
-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
ooo
ic
hmmm theyve survived the 70's they will survive the 00's
