Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles a Tonic for the Times, Youth Market Looks Lucrative

ORADELL, N.J., Aug. 1, 2006 -- With fuel prices reaching all-time highs, American consumers are keen on stretching budgets, especially on large- ticket items like automobiles.

According to a recent study by research and consulting firm TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence, certified pre-owned vehicles are definitely an option.

About one out of twelve households have purchased a CPO within the past 12 months and a significant number (28%) have purchased one sometime in the past, says TechnoMetrica. Comparing study results from 2004 and 2006 shows stable trends.

"CPOs have a natural appeal to consumers who are feeling the pinch of high gasoline prices and see the specter of rising interest rates on the horizon," says Raghavan Mayur, president of AutoView, TechnoMetrica's automotive division.

The proof is in the pudding. When consumers were asked about the main reasons behind their decisions to purchase a CPO, nearly three-quarters indicated cost (43%), affordability (21%) or a good deal (9%).

"But good deals can only go so far," says Mayur. "Consumers need some guidance before automakers can make the sale."

What type of guidance? It's far easier to make the sale when the consumer has some prior knowledge (43%) about CPOs, says Mayur, and having knowledgeable salespeople at the dealerships (29%) is also a big plus.

The study also revealed that the most successful CPO brands, in terms of sales over the past 12 months, include Chevy (18%), Ford (18%), Dodge (9%) and Honda (5%).

According to Mayur, good word-of-mouth, excellent buyer satisfaction levels and relatively affordable prices should help stimulate CPO sales.

"The youth market is particularly interested in such vehicles," he says, "and with their penchant for online research, networking and limited budgets, automakers would be remiss if they didn't make a strong effort to court this important consumer group."

About the Study

TechnoMetrica conducted its first CPO market study in 2004. The current study, based on a survey of 2,012 American households and conducted in March 2006, is a sequel tracking CPO trends over time. Topics include: CPO sales in the past 12 months, CPO market share by brand, satisfaction levels among CPO owners, warranties, other topics.

For information contact Raghavan Mayur at 1-800-328-8324 or mayur@technometrica.com. This is part of TechnoMetrica's AutoView Series of Reports - to learn more about AutoView, or to subscribe to our newsletter, email pcoronel@technometrica.com.