Market Share and Sales Volume for Midsize Non-Premium SUVs Plummet as New-Vehicle Buyers Increasingly Trade to Crossover Models

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., June 25 -- The midsize non-premium utility segment, which was once one of the largest segments in the new-vehicle industry and the source of substantial profits for several automakers, is dramatically declining, according to the Power Information Network (PIN), a division of J.D. Power and Associates.

Share of the total new-vehicle market for this segment has dropped 43 percent since May 1997 to just 5.2 percent in May 2007. Sales volume for the midsize sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment has also dropped dramatically -- down nearly 18 percent (or 86,000 units) from the first five months of 2006 to just 402,272 for the same time period in 2007.

Loyalty for the segment is also down considerably, as the percentage of midsize utility owners who trade in their vehicle for another of the same type has decreased from 29 percent in May 2004 to 17 percent in May 2007. Midsize utility owners who leave the segment are increasingly migrating to crossover utility vehicles (CUV), with the percentage of owners who traded for a midsize crossover more than doubling from May 2004 to May 2007. The percentage of owners who traded for a compact crossover has increased from 6 percent in May 2004 to 11 percent in May 2007.

"We can see the decline in this segment by looking at specific models like the Ford Explorer, which was the third-most-popular model in 1995, 1996 and 1998 in the United States," said Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis at PIN. "But now, the Explorer ranks 46th through the first five months of this year, and there are no midsize utility models among the top 20 most popular vehicles in the country."

Midsize utility owners are also trading to compact conventional cars, as the percentage of owners switching to this segment has climbed from 8 percent in May 2004 to 13 percent in May 2007. SUV owners are similarly moving to midsize conventional cars, with trades to this category increasing from 8 percent in May 2004 to 11 percent so far in 2007.

PIN data also indicate that as midsize utility owners leave the segment, manufacturers are gradually doing the same. The number of midsize utility models in the market peaked at 22 in 2003, 2004 and 2005. However, only 16 models make up the segment in 2007.

"Clearly, consumers are responding to changing economic forces -- from rising energy costs to growing concerns about the environment -- and their preferences are driving the shift in design and vehicle attributes," said Jeff Schuster, executive director of automotive intelligence at J.D. Power and Associates. "Manufacturers are also responding to the changing environment by dramatically increasing the number of new products in the CUV segment to provide substitutes for midsize SUV models. This shift is far from over and will fundamentally change the mix of vehicles on the road in the years ahead."

These loyalty, sales volume and market share declines have occurred despite particularly strong incentives from manufacturers. The average customer cash rebate for midsize utility vehicles increased from $2,642 during May 1 through June 10 of 2006 to $2,994 in the same time period in 2007. The percentage of midsize utility vehicles sold with a rebate also climbed from 56 percent in 2006 to 61 percent in 2007.

To view the release and accompanying chart on our Web site, please click HERE

 

  About Power Information Network (PIN)

PIN's automotive solutions are based on the collection and analysis of daily new- and used-vehicle retail transaction information from more than 10,000 automotive dealership franchises in North America. PIN's industry-leading automotive solutions incorporate consumer demand and sales information to improve business for automotive dealers, manufacturers, lenders, and other companies in the industry. Additional information is available at http://www.powerinfonet.com/

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is an ISO 9001-registered global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies:

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2006 were $6.3 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.