Polk Auto Trend Center Report:Your Favorite Cars Plus Internet Shopping Up! Up 14% in 2000
Over 60% of Consumers Used the Internet
While Shopping for a New Vehicle Last Year
DETROIT, Jan. 14 Today Polk released the fifth in a series
of trend center reports direct from the North American International Auto Show
(NAIAS). Based on input from consumers during the first day the show was open
to the public, Polk found that the number of consumers who used the Internet
while shopping for a new vehicle increased 14%, from 46% last year to 60% this
year. Polk also found that males continued to use the Internet to shop for
vehicles at a slightly higher rate than females, with males increasing from
47% last year to 62% this year, and females increasing from 44% last year to
59% this year.
With regard to the effect age had on Internet vehicle shopping, Polk found
that the highest increase in Internet vehicle shopping occurred in Baby
Boomers (those aged 35 to 54); this segment had an increase of 21%.
Generation X and the Mature Market increased over last year by about 17%.
By income, Polk's results show that the highest increase for Internet
vehicle shopping occurred among those making $75,000 to $99,000 a year. The
second highest increase occurred for those making $30,000 to $49,000.
Internet Shoppers - 2000 vs. 2001 Trend Center Results
Demographics 2000 2001
Gender
Male 47% 62%
Female 44% 59%
Age
Generation X (18-34 years) 50% 67%
Baby Boomers (35 - 54 years) 46% 67%
Mature Market (55 years +) 40% 58%
Annual Income
Under $30,000 36% 46%
$30,000 - $49,999 40% 59%
$50,000 - $74,999 46% 60%
$75,000 - $99,999 47% 75%
$100,000 and over 51% 65%
"Baby Boomers and those households with average to above-average levels of
income are using the Internet to shop for vehicles at an increasing rate,"
said Pete Affeld, an analytic consultant at Polk. "These consumers have found
that the Internet is very useful when shopping for an automobile."
Throughout the NAIAS, Polk will also report on the public's favorite
vehicles. Based on input from consumers during the first "public day" of the
auto show, Chrysler and BMW vehicles were the most popular among consumers.
Specifically, Chrysler and BMW vehicles were favorites across three segments
each.
Top 3 leaders by Segment based Polk Auto Trend Centers -- 1/14/2001
Full-Size SUV: Minivan/Full-Size Van:
1. Hummer 4 door 10.7 1. Chrysler Town & Country 13.6
2. Cadillac Escalade 9.6 2. Dodge Caravan 10.4
Lexus LX 470 9.6 Volkswagen Eurovan 10.4
3. Dodge Durango 7.3 3. Honda Odyssey 8.8
Large Car: Full-Size Pickup Truck:
1. Pontiac Bonneville 25.3 1. Ford F-Series 32.4
2. Ford Crown Victoria 23.0 2. Dodge Ram Pickup 23.0
3. Chevrolet Impala 17.2 3. Chevrolet Silverado 20.9
Midsize Car: Prestige Luxury Car:
1. Volkswagen Passat 9.0 1. BMW 7 Series 23.4
2. Ford Taurus 7.9 2. Audi A8 8.8
3. Volvo S40 6.2 3. Bentley Azure 8.2
Compact Pickup Truck: Compact SUV:
1. Dodge Dakota 22.7 1. Chrysler PT Cruiser 18.7
2. Ford Ranger 20.9 2. Ford Escape 17.3
3. Nissan Frontier 18.2 3. Jeep Wrangler 14.0
Luxury Car: Regular SUV:
1. BMW 3 Series 10.0 1. BMW X5 26.6
2. BMW 5 Series 9.3 2. Jeep Grand Cherokee 14.5
3. Jaguar S Type 8.9 3. Ford Explorer 10.1
About Polk
Polk has served the automotive industry for nearly 80 years and is the
longest standing curator of automobile records in the United States. Founded
in Detroit in 1870, Polk launched its motor vehicle statistical operations in
1922 when the first car registration reports were published. It now provides
automotive solutions to nearly every segment of the motor vehicle industry as
an analytic consultant and statistician, as a provider of database-marketing
services, as a supplier of vehicle histories, and as a data enabler for
geographic information systems. Based in Southfield, Mich., Polk is a
privately held global firm, currently operating in Australia, Canada, China,
France, Germany, Holland, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.
