Preston Automotive Group MD/DE
Boomers buy more new cars but use web, social media less than younger buyers
I recently helped a friend celebrate his retirement by choosing which new car to purchase for his next chapter in life. As it turns out, his purchase mirrors a national trend that shows ‘baby boomers’ are purchasing more new cars than younger buyers. According to a study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Instituteand reported by Automotive News, the largest chunk of new car buyers by age in 2011 was that between 55 and 64 years-old. This means that auto dealers must not only include cutting-edge technology services like CarChat24 in their strategy, but find other methods to connect with these older buyers, as well.
While some analysts point to the economy as a reason for this difference and others note that younger buyers have fewer licenses and are actually driving less, the cause doesn’t really matter. What matters is finding a way to effectively target this valuable segment, especially since Pew Research Center indicates people age 50 to 64 are at least 14 percent less likely to use the internet and 24 percent less likely to use social media than younger buyers.
Just because there are fewer Boomers using the web and social media, don’t ignore these valuable tools, because these same studies indicate that 60 percent of users 50-64 are on social networking sites and 77 percent of them are online. And, as you can see from the Toyota video ad above, manufacturers recognize the buying power this market segment still represents and is working to attract these buyers.
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Tom LaPointe CarChat24 Interactive Media Manager / Industry Analyst
www.carchat24.com/ 24/7 Interactive Automotive Dealer Website LIVE CHAT Solutions Hosted or In-House Options – FREE web chat software 727-638-0195
Tom has an MBA in Marketing and is an automotive writer and author with more than 15 years experience in virtually every aspect of the retail auto industry. He has been a performance leader in everything from sales and service, to web development and viral marketing.
www.facebook.com/CarChat24 / https://twitter.com/CarChat24 / bit.ly/CarChat24GooglePlus
Preston Automotive Group MD/DE
PHOTO for a SMILE - George Carlin's wisdom of the road
Take a quick moment to laugh at this simplistic reality of most people on the road.
Check out Jeff Sterns, CarChat24 VP of Sales and Business Development, at AutoCon 2013 in Las Vegas--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom LaPointe
CarChat24
Interactive Media Manager / Industry Analyst
www.carchat24.com/
24/7 Interactive Automotive Dealer Website Chat Solutions
Hosted or In-House Options – FREE web chat software
727-638-0195
Tom has an MBA in Marketing and is an automotive writer and author with more than 15 years experience in virtually every aspect of the retail auto industry. He has been a performance leader in everything from sales and service, to web development and viral marketing.
www.facebook.com/CarChat24 / https://twitter.com/CarChat24 / bit.ly/CarChat24GooglePlus
No Comments
Preston Automotive Group MD/DE
PHOTO for a SMILE - George Carlin's wisdom of the road
Take a quick moment to laugh at this simplistic reality of most people on the road.
Check out Jeff Sterns, CarChat24 VP of Sales and Business Development, at AutoCon 2013 in Las Vegas--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom LaPointe
CarChat24
Interactive Media Manager / Industry Analyst
www.carchat24.com/
24/7 Interactive Automotive Dealer Website Chat Solutions
Hosted or In-House Options – FREE web chat software
727-638-0195
Tom has an MBA in Marketing and is an automotive writer and author with more than 15 years experience in virtually every aspect of the retail auto industry. He has been a performance leader in everything from sales and service, to web development and viral marketing.
www.facebook.com/CarChat24 / https://twitter.com/CarChat24 / bit.ly/CarChat24GooglePlus
No Comments
Preston Automotive Group MD/DE
What if Hyundai built a pickup?
An article in Automotive News today hardly seems like an April fool’s joke, but as surely as Justin Bieber is facing charges for spitting, U.S. and Japanese automakers probably wish it could be a joke. The Korean manufacturer has been on fire in recent years, with impressive designs and enough quality and warranty coverage to chip away at market share in the auto and SUV segments.
Surely, the company has had their eye on the truck market since it launched here in the 1980’s with its disposable cars, but Hyundai VP in charge of international sales, Hee In-cheol indicates it is in the works.
"We are studying that one very hard -- what kind of pickup truck we should produce, if we have to. Is it a big-size pickup truck like in the United States or a small kind of pickup truck?" Lee told Automotive News.
Hyundai has marketed a compact pickup before, selling their Pony Pickup in South America, Europe, and the Middle East during the 1980's and 1990's. This youtube video shows one that is still in running condition.
Word is they could look at bringing a truck into the U.S. market once the so-called “chicken tax” expires, or launch a small truck in emerging markets. If they choose to come here, they face an uphill battle similar to that of Toyota and Nissan, BUT, Hyundai’s tendency to position its vehicles on price could REALLY cut into the U.S. Big Three of Ford, Ram (Dodge), and Chevrolet / GMC. They have the powerful V8 engine from the Genesis vehicles, and plenty of R&D from their off-road racing ventures, so the pieces are in place to launch a full-sized truck.
With the inevitable rise of fuel prices, the U.S. is also ripe for a true compact pickup again. Most compacts today have more power than full-size pickups a decade ago, and similar-sized cabins. I remember when Chevrolet’s Luv pickup was all the rage, and the Nissan pickup was actually a small truck. Subaru’s recent attempt to revive the Brat was a dud, but Hyundai’s market savvy and design abilities give it a real shot at biting at the heels of the other truck makers.
Tom LaPointe
CarChat24
Interactive Media Manager / Industry Analyst
http://www.carchat24.com/
24/7 Interactive Automotive Dealer Website Chat Solutions
Hosted or In-House Options – FREE web chat software
727-638-0195
Tom has an MBA in Marketing and is an automotive writer and author with more than 15 years experience in virtually every aspect of the retail auto industry. He has been a leader in everything from sales and service, to web development and viral marketing.
2 Comments
Dealer eTraining
That could be really neat. However, I am afraid it would be somewhat like the Honda Ridgeline.
Preston Automotive Group MD/DE
I am with you 100% stan - but I think the ridgeline kind of tried to be a one-size-fits all option - not a full-size, not a compact and REALLY pricey. I think there will be a place in the market for a true compact again, as even 'compact' pickups now have more power and the same size cabins as full-size trucks
Preston Automotive Group MD/DE
What if Hyundai built a pickup?
An article in Automotive News today hardly seems like an April fool’s joke, but as surely as Justin Bieber is facing charges for spitting, U.S. and Japanese automakers probably wish it could be a joke. The Korean manufacturer has been on fire in recent years, with impressive designs and enough quality and warranty coverage to chip away at market share in the auto and SUV segments.
Surely, the company has had their eye on the truck market since it launched here in the 1980’s with its disposable cars, but Hyundai VP in charge of international sales, Hee In-cheol indicates it is in the works.
"We are studying that one very hard -- what kind of pickup truck we should produce, if we have to. Is it a big-size pickup truck like in the United States or a small kind of pickup truck?" Lee told Automotive News.
Hyundai has marketed a compact pickup before, selling their Pony Pickup in South America, Europe, and the Middle East during the 1980's and 1990's. This youtube video shows one that is still in running condition.
Word is they could look at bringing a truck into the U.S. market once the so-called “chicken tax” expires, or launch a small truck in emerging markets. If they choose to come here, they face an uphill battle similar to that of Toyota and Nissan, BUT, Hyundai’s tendency to position its vehicles on price could REALLY cut into the U.S. Big Three of Ford, Ram (Dodge), and Chevrolet / GMC. They have the powerful V8 engine from the Genesis vehicles, and plenty of R&D from their off-road racing ventures, so the pieces are in place to launch a full-sized truck.
With the inevitable rise of fuel prices, the U.S. is also ripe for a true compact pickup again. Most compacts today have more power than full-size pickups a decade ago, and similar-sized cabins. I remember when Chevrolet’s Luv pickup was all the rage, and the Nissan pickup was actually a small truck. Subaru’s recent attempt to revive the Brat was a dud, but Hyundai’s market savvy and design abilities give it a real shot at biting at the heels of the other truck makers.
Tom LaPointe
CarChat24
Interactive Media Manager / Industry Analyst
http://www.carchat24.com/
24/7 Interactive Automotive Dealer Website Chat Solutions
Hosted or In-House Options – FREE web chat software
727-638-0195
Tom has an MBA in Marketing and is an automotive writer and author with more than 15 years experience in virtually every aspect of the retail auto industry. He has been a leader in everything from sales and service, to web development and viral marketing.
2 Comments
Dealer eTraining
That could be really neat. However, I am afraid it would be somewhat like the Honda Ridgeline.
Preston Automotive Group MD/DE
I am with you 100% stan - but I think the ridgeline kind of tried to be a one-size-fits all option - not a full-size, not a compact and REALLY pricey. I think there will be a place in the market for a true compact again, as even 'compact' pickups now have more power and the same size cabins as full-size trucks
No Comments