Auto Industry Launches AutoChoice.org Website

Website provides vehicle registration data by Congressional District

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2007; The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and National Automobile Dealers Association today launched a new website aimed at informing Congress about the types of vehicles consumers in their states and districts are purchasing. Using 2006 sales figures from R.L. Polk & Co., the website, www.AutoChoice.org allows users to view new vehicle registrations by Congressional District using their zip code.

"The data shows that consumers demand a wide range of vehicle types," said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. "In 70 percent of Congressional Districts consumers purchased more light trucks than passenger cars."

Minivans, Vans, SUVs and Pickups are considered light trucks by the National Highways Traffic Safety Administration. Of the 16.4 million new vehicle registrations in 2006, 8.6 million were light trucks. SUVs were the most popular light trucks with more than 4.6 million new registrations, followed by pickups with 2.8 million and minivans and vans with nearly 1 million and 275,000 respectively. Additionally, 7.7 million new passenger cars were registered in 2006.

"Continuing to meet the vehicle needs of recreation enthusiasts and American family vacations is a paramount concern of automakers. Pick-ups, SUVs and crossover vehicles are instrumental in meeting those needs," added McCurdy. "One of the key elements of the Hill-Terry bill (H.R. 2927) is that it maintains the longstanding distinction between cars and light trucks. That difference ensures that as fuel economy increases, the full range of vehicles Americans want will continue to be available. That is good for consumers, but it is also good for the environment, because it means people will continue to buy newer, more fuel efficient vehicles, instead of holding on to their older pickups and SUVs longer."

The Senate energy bill and H.R. 1506 would eliminate the distinction between the car and light truck fleets. The attributes American consumers need in light trucks, including towing ability, cargo capacity and engine power, are the very features that make it impossible to consider (and regulate) light trucks in the same category as passenger cars.

For more information visit http://www.autochoice.org/.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a trade association of 9 car and light truck manufacturers including BMW Group, Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Mazda, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen. For more information visit the Alliance web site at www.autoalliance.org.