Long-Term Effects of High Gas Prices
Although gasoline prices have recently retreated from the high levels seen immediately after Hurricane Katrina, most experts agree that we'll never see sub-two-dollar prices again. So what effect is this going to cause for us as automotive consumers?
High gas prices are going to have some major long-term effects that will change the automobile marketing landscape. Look for the following trends:
1. Watch for auto manufacturers to begin changing advertising to focus on vehicle fuel economy. It has already started.
2) Watch for new small sub-compact vehicle introductions from European and Asian auto manufacturers.
3) Watch for prices to increase on hybrid vehicles, and availability to be limited. It's already started.
4) Watch for prices to decrease and incentives to increase for large American-made SUV's.
5) Watch for manufacturers to introduce more fuel-efficient vehicles that use fuel-saving technologies such as those that disable some engine cylinders when not needed.
6) Watch for manufacturers to introduce vehicles that use alternative fuels, or mixtures of gasoline and other less expensive fuels.
7) Watch for prices of fuel-efficient used cars to rise.
8) Watch for manufacturing trends that serve to reduce vehicle weight, which increases fuel economy. An example is eliminating the spare tire that has traditionally been included with all vehicles. Another is using light-weight materials for body parts and mechanical components.
High gas prices are going to have some major long-term effects that will change the automobile marketing landscape. Look for the following trends:
1. Watch for auto manufacturers to begin changing advertising to focus on vehicle fuel economy. It has already started.
2) Watch for new small sub-compact vehicle introductions from European and Asian auto manufacturers.
3) Watch for prices to increase on hybrid vehicles, and availability to be limited. It's already started.
4) Watch for prices to decrease and incentives to increase for large American-made SUV's.
5) Watch for manufacturers to introduce more fuel-efficient vehicles that use fuel-saving technologies such as those that disable some engine cylinders when not needed.
6) Watch for manufacturers to introduce vehicles that use alternative fuels, or mixtures of gasoline and other less expensive fuels.
7) Watch for prices of fuel-efficient used cars to rise.
8) Watch for manufacturing trends that serve to reduce vehicle weight, which increases fuel economy. An example is eliminating the spare tire that has traditionally been included with all vehicles. Another is using light-weight materials for body parts and mechanical components.
posted by Al Hearn at 9:23 PM
<< Home