Cars Still Outselling Trucks In Connecticut

By Dee-Ann Durbin

Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — People bought more sport utility vehicles, minivans, and other light trucks than cars in all but four states last year, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers said April 23, and analysts predict those states will switch over soon.

Cars barely edged out light trucks in Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey, alliance spokesman Charles Territo said. In every other state, light trucks were king.

“What you’re really seeing is that people are purchasing vehicles that meet their needs, and light trucks, they’re finding, are versatile, comfortable, and they’re safe,” Mr Territo said. The Washington-based alliance represents ten automakers.

Dan Becker of the Sierra Club says the light truck boom has more to do with the estimated $13 billion auto companies spend on advertising each year.

“They have been putting most of that money marketing the vehicles on which they make the biggest margin,” Becker said.

Mr Territo said 2000 was the first year in which US consumers bought more light trucks than cars. That year, there were around 278,000 more light trucks sold. By 2001, consumers in 36 states bought more light trucks than cars, by a margin of nearly 600,000.

In 2003, that margin jumped to 1.7 million, Mr Territo said. Mr Territo predicts that in the next two years, every state in the nation will purchase more light trucks than cars. He pointed out that in New Jersey last year, cars outpaced trucks by only 15,000.

Mike Wall, an analyst with the automotive forecasting firm CSM Worldwide, said he does not expect the light truck trend to end anytime soon, especially now that car-oriented Japanese companies like Toyota Motor Coporation are adding more light trucks to their lineups.

Mr Wall said it is not surprising that the states that still prefer cars are in urban areas. But he said he expects consumers in those areas will soon be switching from cars to crossover vehicles, which are often classified as light trucks and have more cargo room but also have better fuel economy and a carlike ride.

Mr Becker said rising gas prices have not changed consumers’ buying habits. In the last eight years, he said, gas prices have increased by 50 percent but there has been no increase in the number of people using mass transit or buying smaller cars.

“People are buying more trucks, guzzling more gas, relying on more foreign oil, and Detroit is laughing all the way to the bank,” Mr Becker said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration increased the fuel economy requirements for light trucks in 2003. Under those rules, automakers will have to meet an average of 22.2 miles per gallon in 2007, up from the current 20.7 mpg. The required standard for cars is 27.5 miles per gallon.

Southfield, Mich.-based R.L. Polk and Co provided the sales data to the alliance, Mr Territo said.