Toyota Camry Wins Autobytel/MyRide.com 2008 Consumer Choice Award for Most Requested Vehicle
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SAN FRANCISCO & IRVINE, Calif.--Autobytel Inc. today announced the winners of its 2008 Autobytel/MyRide.com Consumer Choice Awards at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention in San Francisco. The awards recognize the automakers that built the cars and trucks most requested by Autobytel's millions of online auto shoppers during 2007,1 offering a unique look into the vehicle selection decisions of online car buyers.
The Big Stories in ‘07
This year’s Top 10 list for Most Requested vehicles underscores an increasing interest in fuel-efficiency among online new-vehicle shoppers. While that’s nothing new, it shows that fuel economy as an online purchase hot button has staying power. As gas prices continue to soar, and offline car shoppers continue to buy trucks in record numbers, Autobytel’s online car shoppers are more frequently opting for fuel-efficient vehicles, even at the expense of vehicle size and capability. Although accounting for over half of total US sales in 2007, trucks and SUVs are notably absent at the top of Autobytel’s Most Requested List.
After sharing a four-year stint as the Most Requested Vehicle Overall, Honda’s Accord and Civic are topped by the Toyota Camry as the most requested vehicle in 2007. Toyota also enjoyed three other Top Ten appearances with the Corolla, Prius and RAV4 taking the sixth, seventh, and eighth spots respectively. Toyota’s strong finish as Autobytel’s Most Requested automaker is reflective of its overall success in vehicle sales in 2007 – just falling short of GM by only about 3,000 vehicles in world sales.
For a second consecutive year, the Top 10 list consists of smaller, compact and subcompact sedans from Asian automakers. Although dominated by Japanese vehicles, BMW reinforces its presence in the Top 10 Most Requested list with the 3 Series, joining the Mini Cooper and also winning the Most Requested New Luxury Car.
What to look for in ’08
Despite not making the Top 10 Most Requested list in 2007, trucks and especially SUVs/Crossovers are a category to watch more closely in '08. General Motors’ breakthrough two-mode hybrid technology and new line up of crossover vehicles like the Buick Enclave and new Chevrolet Traverse will give the automaker a significant fuel economy platform, especially when it comes to large SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe Two-Mode Hybrid.
In addition, Ford and Toyota, with modestly redesigned hybrid versions of their SUVs hitting showrooms, may help breathe some life into the flagging category as fuel-efficient eco-friendly hybrids. GM recently revealed the hybrid models of their Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon to be released later this year. With their improved fuel economy, these traditionally gas-guzzling SUVs could once again appeal to online shoppers who are keen on fuel-efficient vehicles. Ford, Saturn and Toyota will also look to gain the attention of the online car-buying community with their redesigned hybrid versions of their SUVs.
And with the impressive slate of better-designed, more cutting-edge and fuel-efficient vehicles coming from the Big Three in '08, the overwhelming dominance of import brands in Autobytel's 2007 Consumer Choice report, may see a domestic shakeup in 2008. With new sedans, ranging from the Chevrolet Malibu to the Saturn Aura to more fuel-conscious crossovers like the Chevrolet Traverse and Ford Edge, one would expect more online car shoppers to place Big Three offerings on their final shopping lists this year.
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2007 Autobytel/MyRide.com Consumer Choice Awards Winners |
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#1 Overall Most Requested New Vehicle - Toyota Camry |
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Most Requested Truck - Dodge Ram |
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Most Requested New Passenger Car - Toyota Camry |
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Most Requested New SUV - Toyota RAV4 |
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Most Requested New Luxury Car - BMW 3 Series |
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Most Requested New Minivan - Honda Odyssey |
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Autobytel/MyRide.com Top 10 Most Requested Vehicles for 2007 |
| Toyota Camry |
| Honda Civic |
| Honda Accord |
| Mini Cooper |
| Nissan Altima |
| Toyota Corolla |
| Toyota Prius |
| Toyota RAV4 |
| Honda CR-V |
| BMW 3 Series |
To Learn More
For information on the 2008 Autobytel/MyRide.com Consumer Choice Awards winners and for photos of the winning vehicles, please contact Stephanie Rice at 310-882-4008, rices@ruderfinn.com.
About Autobytel Inc.
Since launching the first car-buying website in 1995, Autobytel Inc.’s mission has been to empower automotive consumers with the tools and information they need to make smart, well-informed vehicle purchasing and ownership decisions. The company has helped millions of car shoppers and generated billions of dollars in car sales for dealers. Today, the company’s innovative, consumer-driven flagship site, MyRide.com, expands the company’s mission across the automotive purchase and ownership life cycle. As the first vertical search experience for the automotive marketplace, MyRide.com is designed to help Internet-savvy consumers FIND, SEE, BUY and LEARN anything automotive and BELONG to a diverse community of people who have similar automotive interests
By providing a convenient and comprehensive automotive consumer experience across the purchase and ownership lifecycle, Autobytel provides new value and touch-points for automotive marketers. Through MyRide.com and Autobytel’s marketing network, the company connects dealerships with a steady, diverse stream of motivated, serious shoppers, while providing both dealers and manufacturers with precision-targeted brand and product marketing opportunities. The company's advanced web-based advertising and marketing programs also help dealers and manufacturers build relationships with customers, as well as help them to efficiently manage and convert online business.
1 Based on Purchase Request data throughout the year. Autobytel shoppers submit Purchase Requests with the expressed intent to buy the selected vehicle through an Autobytel member dealer.