Topic: SUV Sales

[Turbo Bob]

Has anyone got some stats on recent SUV sales in Canada/USA?

I'm sure the current cost of fuel must be hurting sales but does anyone have any figures to back this up?

 

I feel sorry for those people fleeing Texas, I bet they wished they had bought something a bit more frugal, some of the tailbacks were 100 miles...



 

[paulk]

The cover story in the Victoria Times Colonist's "Driving" section on Friday was:
"Our SUV love affair continues:  Even gas prices over a buck can't keep Canucks out of trucks"

They didn't have stats for August, but for July, SUV and truck sales increased 11.3% (car sales grew by only 3.6%).

From the article, year to date compact, intermediate, and luxury SUV sales have increased more than 20%.  "The only category that has experienced a sales drop has been large SUVs, whose sales have plunged 11.5%."

It would be interesting to see how much of an impact the August gas price increases have had, and how much of the SUV sales increases have been due to Employee Pricing.

[si]

I saw that TX highway report.. most of the traffic is due to the fact many cars are out of gas.  Military wanted to use helicopters to disperse fuel to get the traffic moving.  (gas tankers were stuck in traffic too).  They even reversed the opposing lanes so they had >8 forward lanes!  Think all greater vancouver residents fleeing to the interior in one rush.

[wing]

co-worker has some SUV that takes 175litres and goes about 700km on that Fuel, THAT'S INSANE!

[random006]

co-worker has some SUV that takes 175litres and goes about 700km on that Fuel, THAT'S INSANE!

Makes my SUV seem like an eco-friendly dream come true in comparison.

On the matter of the Great Texas Migration shown a few posts above, I wonder how many of those cars had a full load of passengers?  How many had just one occupant:  the driver?   

[sterling]

I wonder if the families of 5 trying to flee with their belongings in an Echo wished they had something bigger? 

[Snowman]

The timing could not be better, I’m sure I will be getting a good deal on Wiffy’s new Ridgeline come February.

[Driver]

The timing could not be better, I’m sure I will be getting a good deal on Wiffy’s new Ridgeline come February.

Good for you snowy.  By Feb it's still considered new model and yet you'll be getting (big?) discounts on it... that's rare!

[mdxtasy]

I don't see any of these SUV sales slowing down here in oil and gas country.  But I guess most Albertans think that the $400/person cheque will cover a few of their car payments. 

[ovr50]

It takes a while for changes like this to show up. Remember the gas price hike has been very recently and ppl will wait a bit to see if it stays high (it will, IMO), and if it does, then you will see a shift to smaller, more efficient vehicles by some percentage of the ppl; others will just go on paying the price (and likely complaining about it).

As an automaker, it might be a good idea to put any plans for additional large trucks (personal use trucks), SUVs and Crossovers on "hold" for awhile. Jeep is committed on the new Commander, Ford has a new, larger Expidition coming and GM has the '07MY large SUVs already done. Can't stop those now; but sales may be dismal or at least well below expectations.

Given it's NA with areas of large, wide-open spaces, there will always be a market for some larger vehicles, although diesel and hybrids may become more common.

We'll see.

[johngenx]

700kms on 175L? 

My C230 goes about that distance on just under 55L!  My fuel light usually comes on, on the highway, at 730-750 and it's used 54-55L.  In town I get 575-600kms.

[AVToller]

25 litres per 100 kilometres is obscene. 

[The Mighty Duck]

If wonder if/how many of those new SUV sales are people trading in their big SUVs for smaller, more efficent ones?  Large SUV sales are declining, after all.

[inco]

Given it's NA with areas of large, wide-open spaces, there will always be a market for some larger vehicles, although diesel and hybrids may become more common.

We'll see.

Some people actually do require larger SUV's, although I also suspect they could use a mini-van if they could change their mindset. And still there are others who also travel to places and on trails that perhaps require four wheel or all wheel drive of some variation.

So there will always be a market for larger less fuel efficient vehicles - can't change that.

However it would be great to see an influx of more choices in power whether it be diesel or hybrid, especially diesel. It doesn't add new problems to the world that the hybrids do with all of the batteries that will eventually clog up the land fill sites. We just need to get that cleaner fuel in place - low sulphur which I think is already here in parts of the east.

In North America we see our vehicles offering one or two engine choices. In Europe they have twice as many and everyone has at least one or two diesels that are being offered. Yes the high cost of fuel dictates this happening, but that's where we are heading too and sooner, rather than later, we will see $2 a litre as the norm. Scary, you bet.

Now if it weren't so darn comfortable driving long distances in that Suburban I could.....  

[ovr50]

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/content/11275699201990151749/index.php

Lutz vs. Farago - who's forecast for large SUV sales will be right? Lutz has already backed up from his earlier projection of 1 Million.

Another one of those - "we'll see"....

[safristi]

...swung bye Pensacola on the way South from visiting friends in Alabama...saw lots of Electrical "Linesmen" TRucks heading back from the disaster areas to the WEST..and yes SUV's and BIG TRUCKS are still in vogue in America..lotsof them new(1-3 years old) don't doubt they will be held onto till the 5 year leases are up and then.....in 2007-2009..depending on where gas is at (generally at $2:65 in Kissimme (beside DisneyWorld Orlando..the cheapest..my 93 Octane was $2:85) surprise the TOURIST got the cheapest gas...but outside our Condo 2 K away Premium was $3:09..!!!) ferk Bill Gates fer loaning me his PLACE!!!!!! ....

        The HOV(High Occupancy Lanes) few and far between started at 2 people in a car...in other words most vehicles run 1 person in a BIG MUTHA gettin  LOW mileage and LOVIN' it STILL.....Katrina & UN Lovely RITA wind metre guage "MAY" change that ...but don't hold yer breathe or I'll HUFF and I'll PUFF and I'll BLOW yer HOUSE down