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Opinion Research Poll Illuminates Marked Shift in Automotive Consumer Priorities Toward Research, Fuel Economy and Safety
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| Study Reveals Changing Consumer Attitudes In Light of Recent Events |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 21:50:20 |
| Rating |
 16 ( -2 -12.5% ) |
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Description:
Irvine, CA-October 4, 2001-The vast majority of American adults (83%) say that there has been no change in their plans to purchase or lease a new or used vehicle compared to a month ago - this according to a recent poll by Princeton, New Jersey-based Opinion Research Corporation, conducted for Autobytel Inc (Nasdaq: ABTL). The new study measuring the effects of recent events on automotive consumer attitudes does, however, reveal a range of shifting consumer priorities with regards to the car-shopping process and vehicle specifications. Notably, the poll illuminates a heightened consumer concern for fuel economy, safety and price, as well as an emphasis on research and pricing comparisons during the car-shopping process.
The increased consumer emphasis on fuel economy and safety is perhaps a reflection of the fact that forty-six percent of those surveyed indicated that in light of recent events, they are now more likely to travel by car than by airplane.
Respondents were asked to indicate whether certain factors would either be "more important" or "less important" to them now than they were a month ago if they were planning to buy or lease a new or used car. Thirty-seven percent of respondents indicated that fuel economy is now more important; thirty-four percent stated that safety is now more important; and twenty-four percent responded that price is now more important. This increased concern for safety, fuel efficiency and price stands in contrast to respondents' largely unchanged consideration for more cosmetic features like "luxury" and "style or design."
Over forty percent of respondents indicated that, in light of the slowing economy, they would now be more likely to research and compare vehicle pricing or specifications before they shopped for a new or used vehicle than they were a month ago. Fuel efficiency was cited as a particularly important category for vehicle research and data, with a full eighty-one percent of those polled indicating that it would be either "very important" or "somewhat important" to be able to easily compare fuel efficiency ratings of various vehicles.
As a further indicator of the increased consumer interest in research, over half of those polled (53%) confirmed that the ability to easily learn about manufacturer's rebates and incentives at a free website would either "influence a great deal" or "influence somewhat" their decision to buy or lease a new vehicle. Again underscoring the increased concern for safety, seventy-five percent stated that it would be "very valuable" or "somewhat valuable" to check on the Internet at a free website to see if a safety recall notice has been recently issued for their vehicles-rather than waiting to be notified through the mail.
Survey Methods
Results of the survey are based on telephone interviews conducted by Opinion Research Corporation September 28 through October 1, 2001 with a randomly selected sample of 1005 adults 18 years and older living in private households in the continental United States. |
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