Most Hybrid Owners Don’t Buy Them Again, Polk Study Says - With gasoline prices out of control, many consumers are seeking relief by purchasing more fuel-efficient cars. There’s currently a growing selection of fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles to choose from. A new study has shown that when hybrid owners buy another car, they’re not buying another hybrid. Find out about other dealer services at Chevrolet Dealers In Los Angeles. The study, by auto information company R.L. Polk & Co., shows that although the number of hybrid models in the U.S. has more than doubled since 2007, only 35 percent of hybrid vehicle owners bought another hybrid when they bought another new car in 2011. When repeat hybrid purchases by extremely loyal Toyota Prius owners are factored out, hybrid loyalty drops to less than 25 percent.
While hybrid owners may not be buying another hybrid, they do appear to remain loyal to their brand when they return to the new car market. For example, according to Polk,in 2011, 60 percent of Toyota hybrid owners purchased another Toyota when they returned to the market, while 41 percent of them purchased another hybrid from any brand. “Having a hybrid in the product lineup can certainly give a brand a competitive edge when it comes to attracting new customers,” said Brad Smith, director of Polk’s Loyalty Management Practice. “The repurchase rates of hybrid vehicles are an indication that consumers are continuing to seek alternative solutions to high fuel prices.”
When it comes to owners of Honda hybrids, more than 52 percent of them stuck with the Honda brand, while less than 20 percent of the group of Honda owners purchased another hybrid from any brand. Online cross-shopping data from Edmunds.com shows that potential auto buyers are doing research to compare hybrid vehicles with gasoline-powered cars in the same class. Kia Of Old Saybrook CT has all the information you need when purchasing a new car. For example, the Honda Civic is the second most cross-shopped car by consumers who are considering buying a Toyota Prius and Honda Insight.
“The lineup of alternate drive vehicles and their premium price points just aren’t appealing enough to consumers to give the segment the momentum it once anticipated, especially given the growing strength of fuel economy among compact and midsize competitors,” according to Lacey Plache, Edmunds.com chief economist. “For EVs and PHEVs in particular, certain obstacles – including consumer unease with unfamiliar technology and the lack of an adequate recharging infrastructure — will need to be overcome before sales increase.”
Polk’s research shows that hybrid vehicles make up only 2.4 percent of the total new vehicle market in the U.S., down from a high of 2.9 percent in 2008. Toyota continues to lead in hybrid sales. According to Polk, volatility in gasoline prices between 2008 and 2011, which ranged from just under $2.00 per gallon to nearly $4.00 per gallon, didn’t have much impact on hybrid segment loyalty. Genuine Lexus Parts provides excellent service for new car shoppers. Polk’s study also found that consumers in traditionally green-minded areas of the U.S. where hybrid sales are strongest, such as Southern California, Seattle, and Portland Oregon, aren’t any more loyal to hybrid vehicles than people in other areas of the country.
Photos (top to bottom) Toyota Motor Corporation, Petar Milošević, Honda Motor Company.
Tags: hybrid vehicles, Chevrolet Dealers In Los Angeles, green cars, Toyota Prius, Kia Of Old Saybrook CT, Honda Insight, hybrid cars, R.L. Polk & Co., Genuine Lexus Parts, auto sales
Concept Cars A Hit At New York Auto Show - New York City is famous for shaping opinions and starting trends. Maybe that’s the reason the world’s automakers chose the city to showcase their hottest and most amazing concept cars. The 
The Lexus LF-LC Concept is a sleek hybrid 2+2 sports coupe that was designed by Toyota’s Calty design studio in California. Driver visibility is improved by a glass roof that enhances the car’s sleek lines. The front grille is reminiscent of the Lexus GS, while the swept-back headlights and the trunk design recall the LFA supercar. Inside, there are scooped side panels and a high, curved console that integrates a remote touch-screen that lets the driver operate the controls without having to change position or adjust line-of-sight. 
JD Power Finds Lexus, MINI Service Highest Rated - If you want to have a better experience servicing your car, take it to the dealer. Those are the results of the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Customer Service Index (CSI) Study. According to the study, drivers who have their vehicles serviced at a dealership are more satisfied than when they take them to a non-dealer mechanic. Customers who use the dealer’s service center to have their cars serviced have a satisfaction rating of 787 points out of a possible 1,000 points. Find out about other dealer services at 
The first suggestion is for dealers to offer online scheduling of service appointments and to encourage customers to scheduling their appointments online. According to J.D. Power, customers who schedule appointments online are more satisfied with the service experience than customers who schedule appointments by telephone or who show up at the service center without an appointment. In addition, customers who make service appointments online spend $36 more per year on service than customers without an appointment, and $17 more per year than customers who schedule their appointments over the phone. 
AAA Announces Latest Technology Trends - Automobiles have come a long way since the days when the latest in technology features meant a built-in cigarette lighter and an AM radio. Today, auto manufacturers have launched a new generation of advanced technologies intended to make driving both easier and more safe. Find out about other dealer services at 
Stop-Start technology is usually found on hybrid vehicles. The stop-start system cuts the gasoline engine when the car idles (such as when it stops for a traffic light), which saves gas and reduces emissions. Kia is planning to introduce a stop-start system on non-hybrid vehicles like the Rio and Soul. The Driver Alert Warning System senses when the driver stops paying attention to the road or is fatigued. Detection methods include using cameras to monitor the driver’s movements and sensing when the driver isn’t staying in lane. The system is able to alert the driver to take a break, if necessary. 
Hand-Held Cell Phone Ban Translates Into Fewer Auto Fatalities in CA - Our readers know that we’ve written about distracted driving and the dangers of driving while texting and talking on hand-held cell phones. The 
The California Office of Traffic Safety conducted the first statewide observational cell phone study in the United States. The study showed that nine percent of drivers were either talking or texting behind the wheel. This figure means that at any given time, there are hundreds of thousands of drivers in the state distracted by their mobile phones. 
Consumers Turning to Fuel-Efficient Vehicles To Offset Gas Prices - It’s no surprise that Americans are looking to cut costs in these tough economic times. Restaurants are suffering because people can’t afford to dine out as much as they used to. Consumers are holding onto their money and spending less. Some are cutting costs by skipping that expensive cup of coffee at the coffee shop. Many people find that shopping with grocery store coupons helps make their money go farther. Find out about other dealer services at 
Kelley Blue Books’s results are based in the most inexpensive trim levels for each model, so potential buyers may not find all the features or options they want. Many buyers will decide to add options or go for a higher trim level. “We featured only the most affordable trims available for each vehicle on our list, so some creature comforts and amenities may not be available at these bargain basement prices,” said Gutierrez. “Consumers can always opt to spend a little more to jump up a trim or two to get all of the features they want, but those determined to spend as little as possible on a new vehicle need look no further than this list.” 
Electric Cars Won’t Make Inroads Short-Term - Although electric vehicle technology has come a long way, the internal combustion engine will be with us for some time. That’s the conclusion of KPMG’s 13th annual 
Eighty percent of the survey respondents expected that China would continue to be the largest auto market in both sales and production in 2016. The United States is projected as being the second-largest market, with Brazil and India vying for number three. The KPMG survey makes no noteworthy mention of the role of hybrid cars, even though many new cars will have a gas-electric hybrid option. 
Length Of Time Of Car Ownership Hits Record High - If you’ve delayed purchasing a new vehicle because it’s too costly right now, a new survey shows you’re not alone. The survey, commissioned by 
Because car owners are holding onto their cars longer, there’s less of a supply of pre-owned cars. Combined with the shortage of used cars created by the cash for clunkers program and a low supply of off-lease cars, indications are that the price of used cars will continue to remain high for some time, which will be good for used car dealers. Polk suggests that new car dealers can benefit from higher used car prices by converting used car buyers into new car buyers. 
Auto Dealers May See Banner Year In 2012 - 2012 could be a record year for car dealers in sales per dealership, according to John Frith, vice president of 
According to Urban Science, if sales increase as expected, it will most likely drive increased online traffic to dealers as consumers research different vehicles and prices before making a trip to the dealer’s showroom. Urban Science analyzed client data and estimates that the volume of leads is likely to increase by as much as 15-20 percent. The average dealer may get 85 leads per brand per month, which is up from 75 leads per dealer per month in 2011. 
Study: Portable Media Devices Make Inroads In Cars - The uptick in auto sales over the last year and the increase of the sales of mobile phones such as Apple’s iPhone and digital media players like the iPod appear to go hand-in-hand. The profusion of new features and services available on these portable devices means that more drivers and passengers will be using them inside their vehicles. Further dealer resources available at 
As the adoption of mobile devices inside cars becomes more commonplace, automobile manufacturers will have to find ways to allow drivers to stay safe while controlling them. Voice recognition similar to Apple’s Siri is becoming increasingly popular and may be required to enable drivers to access media and apps on their phones and digital media players.