http://www.autopacific.com/index/news-app News from www.autopacific.com en 2010-03-12T07:25:17-08:00 hourly 1 1970-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://www.autopacific.com/index/news-app/story.54/title.consumer-car-choices-counter-to-what-government-mandates Governmental mandates and consumer desires appear to be moving at cross-purposes. Consideration for small cars and hybrids, the most fuel efficient vehicles, is down dramatically, while consideration for pickups and SUVs is up dramatically. Press Releases 2010-02-11 http://www.autopacific.com/index/news-app/story.53/title.autopacific-sales-forecast-u-s-light-vehicle-sales-set-to-recover-slowly 2009 will be a memorable year for the automotive industry – unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. The U.S. light vehicle market is expected to close out 2009 at a disastrous 10.3 million sales, down from 16.1 million sales just two years prior and the lowest industry volume since AutoPacific began forecasting automotive sales in 1988. The industry can look forward to year-on-year recovery over AutoPacific’s five year forecast period, but at a relatively gradual pace. Press Releases 2010-01-05 http://www.autopacific.com/index/news-app/story.52/title.consumer-brands-auto-brands-how-do-they-relate- You won’t likely find many Porsches parked in front of Walmart. Only one in 17 Walmart Shoppers will even consider a Porsche. On the other hand one in six REI shoppers will consider a Porsche. A Generation Y new vehicle buyer is much more likely to also purchase an Apple product – computer, iPod, and iPhone than older new vehicle buyers. Shoppers at H&M – a trendy “cheap-chic” clothier – are much more into their vehicle’s image than their vehicle’s power and acceleration. Trader Joe’s customers are more likely to drive an Audi, BMW or Volvo. Press Releases 2009-12-14 http://www.autopacific.com/index/news-app/story.49/title.selling-smaller-cars-in-the-us-won-t-be-child-s-play AutoPacific, Inc. and SIGMA GmbH use Model-Level Social Milieus to Help Manufacturers Determine How to Make Small Cars Sell to US Consumers. Tightening CAFE standards may force smaller cars on US car buyers who are not inclined to downsize. “Our research shows that, despite what the U.S. Government is telling us, few Americans want to downsize to smaller cars,” says George Peterson, President of AutoPacific, “Finding more buyers inclined to purchase smaller cars will not be easy.” Press Releases 2009-12-10 http://www.autopacific.com/index/news-app/story.51/title.5-new-cars-women-really-want ...Men and women prioritize most of the same things when it comes to choosing a car, according to AutoPacific, an auto industry research and consulting firm. Where men and women diverge, it's a matter of degree. At the very top of the list of priorities, there's little difference. For instance, more than 90 percent of both men and women in an AutoPacific survey say "Reliable/Dependable" and "Overall Quality" were very important or extremely important reasons to purchase the vehicles they bought. AutoPacific in the News 2009-12-09