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Title: THE MARKET POTENTIAL FOR MICRO-MINI CARS IN THE UNITED STATES (DISCUSSION)
Accession Number: 00378512
Record Type: Component
Availability: Find a library where document is available Abstract: Based upon our national survey research, our product clinic research, and our focus group research, we estimate that by 1985 the micro-mini car market segment could easily account for 6 to 9 percent of passenger car sales. With two or three manufacturers in the market, then, and assuming one of them is a domestic manufacturer, unit sales of micro-minis in a 12 million car year could easily exceed 800,000 units. It is also assumed that gasoline fuel prices will continue to increase by a couple percentage points faster than the Consumer Price Index. We are also assuming that whatever fuel efficient technology that may be incorporated in the subcompact models can also be passed on to the new micro-mini models, so they wouuld have the same relative fuel efficiency advantage they have now. While demographic, geographic and economic conditions vary from region to region, the fundamental nature of the automotive consumer remains fairly common throughout. Sales of micro-mini cars will undoubtedly be greater on the west and east coasts, but viable demand exists in all regions of the country, especially in the more congested urban areas. The prime prospects for micro-mini cars are those whose economic situations require exceptional fuel economy in a low cost package. Compared with the total new car market, they are younger, more likely to be single, and less affluent. Many of these prospects are currently being held out of the new car market by high prices and interest rates. (Author)
Supplemental Notes: This paper appeared in Transportation Research Circular No.264, Mini and Microautomobile Forum: Overview and Potential Problems. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Corporate Authors: Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Authors: HEMPHILL, JPagination: p. 8-14
Publication Date: 1983-9
Serial: Media Type: Digital/other
TRT Terms: Old TRIS Terms: Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety
Files: TRIS, TRB
Created Date: Dec 30 1983 12:00AM
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