Würzburg, September 7, 2007
Consumers are saving. 94 percent of car drivers do not intend to buy a new car in the remaining three and a half months of this year. Even the IAA will not influence their purchase decision, according to 92 percent. This was the result of the latest "Trend-Tacho" survey by "kfz-betrieb" and Santander Consumer Bank.
However, the consumer climate in the automotive market is nowhere near as tense as some pessimists describe it: According to respondents' estimates, spending on vehicle purchases, repairs and maintenance remained at the same level as the previous year. The vast majority of middle and luxury class drivers (86%) even spent more money on their new car in the first six months compared to their last car purchase. And only seven percent deliberately postponed their car purchase. For a good 80 percent, a young used car is a real alternative to a new car. A good half of car owners bought a used car instead of a new car in the first half of 2007. If customers received attractive discounts from their car dealer, 58 percent would still opt for a new vehicle. However, around two thirds of those surveyed expect discounts of at least eleven percent. 33 percent of potential new car customers would even like discounts of between 16 and 20 percent.
"Trend-Tacho" is a new analysis tool for the automotive industry and is published once a quarter. ABH Marketingservice and BBE Unternehmensberatung survey around 1,000 car drivers in a representative random selection. The clients are the industry magazine "kfz-betrieb" and Santander Consumer Bank.
"kfz-betrieb" is a trade magazine published by Vogel Auto Medien, Würzburg. The most widely read trade magazine in the automotive industry has been informing the automotive trade and service sector for 97 years. "kfz-betrieb" is the official organ of the German automotive trade (ZDK), the professional lobby for over 40,000 car dealerships and workshops. Daily news from the entire automotive industry can be found at www.kfz-betrieb.de and in the daily newsletter.
If you have any questions, please contact
Norbert Rubbel
Service & Technology" department
Editorial office "kfz-betrieb" weekly journal & online
Vogel Auto Media
97064 Würzburg
Phone +49 931 418-26 34
Fax +49 931 418-20 50
E-mail: norbert_rubbel@vogel-automedien.de
