AutoPacific Status in the Pandemic
Still Pedal to the Metal in Auto Research and Analysis- May 12, 2020
- Auto News & Reviews, Auto XPRT Speaks..., Uncategorized
- Posted by George Peterson
- Comments Off on AutoPacific Status in the Pandemic
- September 9, 2018
- Auto News & Reviews, Automobile Cool News
- Posted by George Peterson
- Comments Off on Atomization – Auto Industry Apocalypse Ahead – Vehicle Nameplates Soar as Sales Fall
Over the past decades, the American auto industry has “atomized” with more and more new car and light truck models being added to the lineups each year. The reason for this rapid addition of nameplates – atomization – has been an attempt by auto designers and marketers to provide products targeted to much more finely defined product niches. Consumers demand more and more focused products and today’s automotive consumer research can identify exactly what those consumers want. Current product development techniques allow vehicles to be developed more quickly and efficiently than in the past. So, why not develop a vehicle targeted at each well-defined buyer group?
17-million Sales Years Not Sustainable
During the ‘90s, a good year was 15 million car and light truck sales. By early in the first decade of the 2000s, the industry was expecting 17 million units per year. Companies began adding more and more nameplates to take advantage of these [...]
- August 3, 2017
- Auto News & Reviews, Auto XPRT Speaks..., Automobile Cool News
- Posted by George Peterson
- 2 Comments
Atomization Continues Unabated The American car and light truck market is undergoing atomization. There are 313 car and truck nameplates on sale today in the United States. By 2022 – just five years in the future – there are going to be 377. A nameplate is a vehicle name like Ford Explorer, Renge Rover Evoque or Toyota Camry.
Car to Truck Shift Permanent Manufacturers are adding new products to more tightly appeal to customers with more diverse tastes. Buyers have shifted to crossover sport utility vehicles (XSUVs) in droves. Automakers are adding more XSUVs to satisfy every whim. Trucks began outselling cars in 2001, but since 2012 when cars last had 50% of the [...]
- July 6, 2017
- Auto News & Reviews, Jeep, On The Road: Driving Impressions
- Posted by George Peterson
- Comments Off on Jeep Renegade Survives Costco Challenge
2017 Jeep Renegade Deserthawk
Having a new Jeep Renegade Trailhawk over the long July 4th weekend, I took it to Costco for the quarterly bird seed, cat food replenishment. At first I was wondering if the Renegade was up to the task. Does a small crossover SUV have the capacity to take the load?
There were fourteen bags of bird seed and two of cat food. Plus the package of 30 rolls of toilet paper. Would they fit? Plus, would they fit with the other stuff we bought? Removing the tonneau cover over the cargo area and folding the rear seats were required to fit in the load. There was room to spare. Probably could have doubled the number of bird seed and cat food bags.
Audi A8 in a Smaller Platform For a car that is slightly smaller than the Honda Civic sedan and the Ford Focus sedan, the designed-for-America (and China) 2015 Audi A3 sedan comes across as a premium piece. The A3 previously was a slow selling hatchback. Now adding the three-box notchback with a trunk bodystyle Audi can substantially broaden its appeal in the USA. For decades, American buyers have perceived hatchbacks to have less safety (less rear crash protection – a perception) and less security (from bad guys seeing into the cargo area and stealing what is there). The sedan clears those negative perceptions and gives Audi a strong platform to build the bottom end of its brand.
