A study released by the automotive consulting firm AutoPacific Inc. summarizes the results of its 2007 model-year vehicle-satisfaction research. AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA) is an industry benchmark for objectively measuring how satisfied an owner is with their new car or light truck. Vehicle satisfaction may be an indicator of what vehicle buyers may buy in the future.

The brand with the highest satisfaction rating is Infiniti. The vehicle registering highest overall satisfaction in 2007 is the Cadillac DTS. The highest rated truck is the 2007 Lincoln MKX, a luxury crossover SUV.

There are 25 Vehicle Satisfaction Award categories. At the manufacturer level, multiple award winners include: General Motors and Toyota—six categories; Ford—five categories; Nissan and Hyundai—three categories; and Honda—two categories.

“Infiniti wins the Vehicle Satisfaction Award as the top brand in the closest race in years. Strong satisfaction performance by Infiniti cars and trucks has it winning over strong performances by Lincoln, Cadillac, Lexus and other luxury marques,” says AutoPacific President George Peterson. “The dual wins by Ford Motor Company’s new Crossover SUVs—the Lincoln MKX and Ford Edge—shows it was on target when developing these important new vehicles.”

Peterson continues, “The Cadillac DTS is the highest-rated car and vehicle overall. The Hyundai Santa Fe was the first Korean vehicle to win AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Award—in 2001—and continues its strong performance for the sixth year in a row. Winning an AutoPacific VSA is testament for any vehicle that their owners are confident that they have made the right choice.”

Source: AutoPacific. (June 12, 2007). “AutoPacific Announces 2007 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards.” AutoPacific press release courtesy of PR Newswire.

Approximately 71% of U.S. consumers are using the Internet today, according to data from the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Nearly the same numbers of men versus women are using the Internet, but the age groups that are now going online is skewed toward younger demographics. According to the data, 87% of consumers aged 18–29 use the Internet, but 83% of the consumers aged 30–49, 65% between 50–64 and 32% of those over 65, are now going online. In other words, consumers under 50 years old are typically using the Internet. Specialty-equipment companies could use this to their advantage by simply providing detailed information about their products to help guide consumers towards the right places to actually make their purchases.

The types of consumers going online typically involve those living in urban or suburban areas of the country, with 73% of those living in these areas saying they use the Internet. In addition, more than 80% of those with a household income of $50,000 or more per year use the Internet, while 55% of those earning less than $30,000 per year go online. Eighty-one percent of those who have attended some college use the Internet today.

On a typical day, 41% of Internet users use a search engine to merely find information online, which is the second-most popular online activity next to using e-mail. However, nearly one in five (19%) use the Internet each day to research a product or service before buying it, and a total of 78% of Internet users have reported doing this activity at least once. The number of consumers who have actually made a purchase online only drops to 71%, showing that a majority of the online population rely on the Internet to do their shopping.

Specialty-equipment companies may be at an advantage by creating a blog website for consumers to discuss their products. Research shows that 39% of consumers going online are now reading blogs, possibly looking for what they perceive as unbiased information.

Source: SEMA Research & Information Center

What characteristics are most important to new-vehicle buyers? Recent data from the automotive consulting firm AutoPacific shows that overall reliability and durability tops the list of characteristics new-vehicle buyers are looking for when making their automotive purchases. In their Future Vehicle Study, AutoPacific sent out its survey to new-vehicle buyers to find out what features, characteristics and types of vehicles they look for in their current and future vehicle purchases. On a scale of one to five, survey respondents were asked to rate several vehicle characteristics in terms of importance. The top 10 in terms of average characteristic rating are shown in the table below.

AutoPacific also asked new-vehicle buyers to indicate what vehicle features they want on their next vehicle purchase. In order to get a more accurate reading, typical costs of each of the features were provided next to each item. The table below shows that new-vehicle buyers have safety in mind when considering their next vehicle, as shown by the top three features listed.



Specialty-equipment companies often want to know what types of vehicles consumers will buy next. The AutoPacifc data showed that, despite rising gasoline prices, consumers are still considering SUVs and pickups because these vehicles show up on the top 10 vehicle types considered, as shown in the table below.



An overwhelming 65% of the new-vehicle buyers surveyed indicated that they plan to purchase a gasoline powertrain, while 26% indicated hybrid and 7% said diesel was their next vehicle powertrain choice. A majority (54%) of those surveyed said they will purchase a six-cylinder engine, 29% a V8 and 14% a four-cylinder engine the next time they purchase a vehicle. So when will most new-vehicle buyers make their next purchase? AutoPacific asked that as well, and the results are shown in the table below.



AutoPacific regularly sends out its survey to new-vehicle buyers. The results above were taken from a sample of 23,958 consumers-59% male and 61% female. For more information about AutoPacific, including how to obtain more data, visit www.autopacific.com.

Source: SEMA Research & Information Center

According to Ward's Auto, light-vehicle sales for the month of June are expected to fall 1.2%, averaging 57,537 units on each of 27 days. This is compared to 56,839 units during 26 days in June of 2006. The Ward's Auto article states that on a volume basis, sales should hit 1,534,650 units, a 38,687-unit increase over last year's 1,495,963, due to buyers seeking out model-year clearance bargains.

In May, car and truck sales were reasonably balanced. But Ward's Auto is predicting that passenger cars will yield ground to light trucks this month, despite high gas prices. In fact, Ward's Auto is forecasting trucks will account for 52.5% of North American light-vehicle sales, up from 50.4% in May. General Motors is expected to deliver 427,917 vehicles this month, representing a 1.1% increase over last year. The increase in sales will be driven by sales of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. Ford Motor Co. is expected to finish the month above Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. due to successful sales of the Escape and Edge, with 244,453 units versus Toyota's 240,258 units.

Sales for the Chrysler Group are expected to remain fairly stable with a small DSR drop of 0.5% on a volume of 213,593 vehicles, compared to 206,758 for June 2006. American Honda Motor Co. Inc. is expected to sell 126,449 vehicles, a drop of 2.2% from last year. Nissan North America Inc. has forecast 78,295 units for June, a 0.3% DSR increase over last June. The article also notes that the rest of the industry is expected to remain flat, as the Detroit Three's market share climbs to 57.7% from May's 53.3% but remains shy of last June's 58.7%.
   
The increase in overall light-vehicle sales represents a strong seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 16.44 million, up from both last month's 16.07 million and June 2006's 16.12 million. Inventories for light vehicles should rise slightly as the automakers prepare for plant shutdowns this summer as a result of model changeovers. Ward's Auto states that light-vehicle inventory for June should rise to 3,996,000 units, a 19.8% increase from May. Inventory will support a 70-day supply.



Source: Elnick, Diane. (June 8, 2007). "June Sales to Shift Toward Light Trucks." WardsAuto.com. Retrieved June 12, 2007.

One word forces you to talk about the most important person in your marketing equation: the prospect. It's the most important word you can use in your advertising, promotional copy and sales scripts, according to Larry Mersereau, a small-business consultant, speaker and author in the field of marketing and promotion. He says that too many marketers talk about themselves or their wonderful product. They want their prospects to know about their awards, and they want their prospects to know what they look like. These companies also appear in their own ads like they're the most important person in the deal.

Mr. Mersereau notes that an important point for businesses to keep in mind whenever they talk to prospects, whether it's in print, in a sales conversation, on their website, any time and anywhere: They (the consumers) don't care about you. They don't care what you look like or how you build your product or how big your building is. They care about themselves and what will be better about their life after they own what you're selling.

So, the most important word in your vocabulary is "you." Start a headline or a sentence with "you," and you must talk about the prospect. A few examples using this tactic: "You will enjoy..."; "You will experience..."; "Your family will..."; "You're invited..."; and "You could be..."

Look at your current marketing materials. Read them to yourself sentence by sentence. After each sentence, ask yourself who it was about. Was it about you? Or was it about the prospect? If it was about you, try to turn it around and make it about the prospect.

For example: "We have over 10,000 parts in our inventory" could be turned around to say "You'll surely find the exact part you need in our 10,000-piece inventory." "We deliver FAST" should be "You'll have your parts FAST." Start talking about the person who really matters: The Prospect. Start with the word "you," and you can't go wrong.

Source: Larry Mersereau (May 29, 2007). "The Most Important Word..." Bringing In More Business (electronic newsletter).  http://promopower.com.

The number of E85 refueling locations across the United States now exceeds 1,200, according to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC). The Renew E85, LLC station at 1440 Horicon Street in Maryville, Wisconsin, is one of the newest E85 stations and put the total number of E85 fueling sites over 1,200. 

Jay Stoflet of Renew E85, LLC added, "It's great to reach a milestone like this, but we know there is still a long way to go for Americans to have the type of convenient access, across the United States, needed to make E85 a viable option for the masses. Being the 1,200th facility to offer E85, our hope is that it illustrates to others that there is a waiting market in this country for E85 and that it inspires them to join the cause, helping to fill the demand U.S. consumers have for alternative fuels."

Last year at this time, the number of E85 sites across the United States was less than 750 facilities. During the past year, more than 450 (61% growth from last year) new sites have been established, including E85 locations opening for the first time in Alabama and Arkansas. Currently, there are 70 privately accessed and 1,134 publicly accessed E85 sites. The NEVC has assisted with the establishment of all of these facilities, providing technical, promotional and/or financial support.

"Growth and interest in E85 fuel and infrastructure is continuing at a rapid pace," said Chairman of the NEVC and Director of Government Affairs for ICM Greg Krissek. "We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone and look forward to helping to grow the nation's E85 infrastructure even more in the coming months. Congratulations to the Renew station in Maryville, Wisconsin, and to all the retailers supporting E85."

The NEVC is currently working with our many partners to encourage that Congressional appropriations are made available to continue to grow the numbers of E85 stations across the nation.

As the number of E85 stations across the United States grows, more consumers may see that buying an E85-capable vehicle will be a practical option. Sales of alterative-fuel powertrains, including E85, clean diesel and gasoline-electric hybrid powertrains, reached 1.5 million last year.

Source: National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (May 7, 2007). "E85 Stations Surpass 1,200 Locations!" National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition press release.

Two production-ready amphibious vehicles are planned for introduction in the United States in 2009, according to UK-based Gibbs Technologies, who is forming three new companies to produce and market its vehicles in North America. Quadski, an all-terrain vehicle, will be manufactured and sold by Gibbs Sports Amphibians. Aquada, a vehicle that combines the handling of a sports car with an ability to travel at more than 30 mph on water, will be built and marketed by Gibbs Amphibians.

Quadski is the third demonstration of Gibbs' HSA technology following the successes of the Aquada and the Humdinga. It is capable of traveling up to 50 mph (72 kph) on land and water and makes the transition at the flick of a switch.

According to Alan Gibbs, the firm's founder and chairman, "Our market research indicates that a lineup of high-speed amphibious vehicles similar to the Aquada could generate annual sales volumes of 100,000 or more within five years."

"I know consumers will love the fun of driving a Quadski on land one minute and then head straight into the sea or river the next. But there is a very serious side to Quadski as well: emergency services and aid workers will be able to reach areas and people no two-wheel- or four-wheel-drive vehicle could reach," Gibbs notes.

The Gibbs Aquada is transformed from road to water mode at the touch of a single button. The amphibian senses when it is in water, and so will not allow retraction of its wheels when on dry land. Hydraulic pressure is applied to the hydraulic strut, which lifts the wheel and tire assembly to its retracted position within the wheel housing. At the same time the wheels are "decoupled" so they are no longer driven by the engine. The steering nozzle is mounted on the back of the stator nozzle and is connected to the normal steering wheel. It is used to direct the water jet in order to steer the amphibian. The designers also devised a way to prevent water from entering the vehicle when in the water. Spray rails and chines contain the spray on either side of the amphibian and away from the cockpit.

Gibbs Technologies currently is considering locations for technical centers, sales offices and manufacturing plants in several states including Georgia, Virginia, Michigan and Texas, according to Alan Gibbs, the firm's founder and chairman.

"A commercially viable high-speed amphibious vehicle has eluded auto manufacturers, entrepreneurs and inventors for more than 100 years," Gibbs said. "Recent developments in light-weight materials, engine technology and vehicle architecture, however, have enabled us to accomplish what many believed to be impossible."

Source: Gibbs Technologies. (June 13, 2007). "Gibbs Entering U.S. Market With Amphibious Vehicles." Gibbs Technologies press release courtesy of PR Newswire.

A new study reports that safety is a major reason why consumers consider and purchase Xenon or High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights on their automobiles.

The research was conducted by Brand-Aid Consulting of Wrentham, Massachusetts. In conjunction with R.L. Polk registration data, Brand-Aid surveyed 400 people who drove 2003–2005 model-year vehicles. Two hundred of the owners drove Xenon-equipped vehicles, while the other half drove vehicles with halogen lighting.

Ninety-seven percent of Xenon owners surveyed said they see better with the technology, and the headlights seem to perform better in poor weather conditions, when compared to standard halogen lighting. When asked about specific Xenon performance features, these consumers noted that they felt safer because they saw more of the oncoming road, as well as viewing roadside obstacles sooner. This is not surprising, as existing research shows that seven out of 10 drivers in the United States fear driving at night for reasons related to poor visibility.

"We have strong empirical evidence that shows that consumers appreciate and are loyal to Xenon because of the technology's unparalleled illumination and inherent safety benefits," said Matt Blewett, Xenon Product Manager, OSRAM SYLVANIA. "The technology provides its owners with 70% more light on the road, increasing visibility of many peripheral objects left in the shadows by standard halogen lighting."

The results of the consumer study reveal that nearly all (91%) of current Xenon vehicle drivers are "completely to very well satisfied" with their headlights. Of those polled, 92% indicated that visibility and enhanced safety are the most popular features of the technology. An overwhelming 97% of current Xenon owners said that they would purchase a future vehicle with Xenon technology, and 85% of those surveyed would recommend Xenon headlights to others.

The study reveals that 70% of non-Xenon drivers are aware of the technology and its benefits. The study also reveals that the vast majority (69%) have never driven or have never been a passenger in a vehicle equipped with Xenon headlights. This shows that the majority of non-Xenon drivers form opinions about the technology by only experiencing it from the perspective of on-coming traffic. Despite this lack of first-hand experience as a Xenon-headlight driver, 51% of non-Xenon owners said they believe the technology provides a safer nighttime driving experience.

Source: OSRAM SYLVANIA. (June 12, 2007). "Vehicle Owners Drawn to Xenon Lighting Because of Safety Features, Benefits." OSRAM SYLVANIA press release courtesy of PR Newswire.

Textron Inc. is now seeking licensing agreements for its latest surface-contamination detection system that enables accurate, automated, inline inspection of metallic and composite panels prior to bonding, coating, painting or welding operations. It says that the technology is currently used for real-time, in-process panel inspection at a leading U.S. aircraft manufacturer, where detecting surface contamination before subsequent operations has resulted in lower scrap and rework cost and improved customer satisfaction. The technology is transferable to any application where surface contamination of metal or composite panels is undesirable, necessitating the need for in-process inspection. According to the company, some of the benefits of its technology include:

• Infrared imaging: Infrared imaging of a part using a mid-wavelength camera (7–14 micron) after a rinse operation clearly reveals contaminated surfaces as low-emissivity (light) areas, and clean surfaces as high-emissivity (dark) areas. The images can be captured by the camera(s) within the processing line, but evaluated away from the undesirable conditions that may be present in the line. A sample image taken of a sheet of metal is shown below:

• Automated multiple camera system: Using multiple cameras enables the desired line throughput that may not be achievable with a single camera having to image the entire part surface(s). Each camera of the system automatically pans and tilts to cover the entire area of interest, and the images are integrated into a composite mosaic of the entire part.
  
• Warping and de-skewing imaging methods: Pre-processing of the images prior to evaluation enables accurate image representation and defect measurement.
  
• Automated image evaluation: Automated evaluation methods can be utilized with digital images of the parts to enable real-time, objective, error-free screening.

Textron notes that alternate methods for inspecting surface cleanliness are often destructive, very time-consuming or done on a sampling basis. The patented method and apparatus for surface-contamination detection overcomes all of these deficiencies of existing methods. Textron says that its technology makes 100% surface inspection feasible for high-throughput processing lines, enabling reduction in scrap/rework and improved quality to the customer.

All aspects of its technology have been fully developed and implemented in a production line, the company notes. Replication of its method and apparatus to a different production line will require some line-specific setup and training which could be facilitated through a consulting agreement in conjunction with a patent and technology license, and those interested should contact Robert Pascal of Textron Innovations at rpascal@textron.com.

Source: Yet2.com. "Automated, In-process Method for Surface Contamination Inspection of Panels." Retrieved June 14, 2007 from www.yet2.com.

According to a federal government ruling, 100% of new motor vehicles will, by law, need to have a tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) by the year 2008. While TPMS represent an important development in car safety, they also pose challenges for the specialty-equipment industry. Improper dismounting, for example, can break sensors, costing you time and money.

Servicing tires on vehicles equipped with TPMS can result in an expensive lesson if proper procedures aren't followed. The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has trained thousands of technicians in North America to handle the tires and vehicles and will present an overview of how TPMS technology affects the replacement-tire market. This webinar will focus on service-related issues that occur and the steps that service providers can take to prevent broken sensors and disabled systems.

Webinar: Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Thursday, July 12, 2007
10:00 a.m. (PST)

Past webinar sessions are available for viewing and download by visiting www.sema.org/webinar, or by clicking here.