The first numbers are in: American car buyers habits have changed

Its official: car buyer's habits have drastically changed in this country for the first time ever. According to data compiled by industry analysts reported on the website BerkshireEagle.com, one out of every five vehicles sold in this country during the month of April was a compact car.

What this means is car buyers have been paying attention and are adjusting their habits to the high price of fuel. Don't think the automakers aren't paying attention. It's their job to.

But now, armed with actual figures that can back them up-expect manufacturers to shift their focus on economy vehicles into an even higher gear than they are currently.

It might be to the manufacturer's benefit, though, if they come up with a single fuel technology and continue to educate consumers. As a recent MSNBC story points out, consumers are confused lately about which alternate fuel solution will be the answer to truly alleviating our current fossil fuel predicament.

Just because Americans are finally convinced that the fuel pinch isn't a passing fad, doesn't mean the car makers can sit back. Believe me-build more eco-friendly cars and watch the money come rolling in.

Comments

[Suzanne]

I understand that April was the best month for Ford Focus sales since 2000. The shift to smaller cars looks like it's here to stay.

[Rebecca]

It's interesting to note what you said about one in every five vehicles sold in April being a compact since, ten years ago when the SUV craze was at its height, I've seen statistics showing one in every eight vehicles sold was a small car. Are those statistics wrong? If not, I would think there would be more than a 7.5% increase in small car sales given the exorbitant rise in gas prices since then.

[ckroll98]

Yeah, the shift is more towards smaller cars with better fuel economy, for the time being. Soon, people are going to want their big trucks and SUV's back, and once they get more used to the higher fuel prices, the impact will wear off. I know my wife and I have adjusted our habits by carpooling and not driving her SUV. We're trading it in soon on a smaller sedan.

[PeculiarPoPo]

I bet GM and Ford are sad they phased out the Metro and Festiva from their lineups. Those were cheap to build, cheap to fuel, and cheap to repair. I doubt there will be too many cars from other manufacturers that will compare to those. Right now, I'd buy one for my commute!

[ltorres]

Car makers aren't supposed to just recognize trends. They're supposed to anticipate them. While the fuel-efficient models are starting to make some noise, they should have more out there and be farther along with the technology.

[fixit]

I think world conditions suggest this is anything but a fad. As other countries increase thier demand for oil and gas prices continue to increase, car buyers will want better mileage. That's not going to change anytime soon.