New Era In The Automotive Industy
We are living in a time of total upheaval and most people don’t know it. With the rising price of gasoline the automotive industry if forever changed.
Hordes of consumers are trading in their big trucks and large SUVs (or at least trying to) for smaller, lighter vehicles that get the best fuel mileage possible in its class. Dealers who have been pushing these big, gas guzzling rigs are dumbstruck, unprepared and freaking out!
I read in the Automotive News (June 2, 2008 issue) that “one out of 10 dealers in the Automotive News survey says he or she no longer accepts big SUVs and pickups as trade-ins.” To show an example of this huge downfall of prices they site a 2008 ford F-250 Super Duty diesel that sold for $53,000 in Feb. 08. The owner didn’t like the fuel mileage and went shopping for something more efficient. When asked about the trade-in value of the truck, he was shocked when only offered $35,000. The price had dropped into the mud in only three months. OUCH!
The factories that were building these big trucks and large SUVs are stopping production. Dealers don’t want anymore of them, because they can’t get rid of what they have on the lot.
Everyone is “thinking small!” But a lot of manufactures are too late in their thinking. It will take them one to two years to ramp up production of little 4-cylinder fuel efficient cars that the masses want NOW!
What is planned for production and sales in 2009?
Reality Bites move All the President’s Men film
- Dodge or Chrysler hatchback
- Honda hybrid hatchback
- Kia Soul
- Kia Spectra
- Mazda 3 – redesign
- Mazda kabura
- Nissan Cube
- Pontiac G3
- Scion tC – redesign
What are you driving and are you thinking of downsizing anytime soon? Bad Taste movies
June 10th, 2008 at 8:20 am
This is a trend I’m happy to see.
For the record, I drive a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata. It weighs 2530 pounds, so there are very few options for downsizing, but many options for improved fuel economy. I’m considering getting a new MX-5 Miata after the expected redesign around 2012. I’m hoping Mazda will make even more use of aluminum and higher-strength steel alloys by then, so that I can get an MX-5 with air conditioning and the 6-speed transmission for around 2400 pounds. I’d also like to see direct injection added to the engine to improve fuel economy, reduce emissions, and increase power.