Female Car Buyers Embrace Domestic Automakers, Porsche

Female car buyers are making up a larger customer base for some of the top domestic auto brands, but none approach the gains that Porsche has made with women this year, according to an analysis by Edmunds.com, the online resource for automotive information. 

The analysis found that of all automakers, Porsche has made the largest relative market share gains among women nationwide over the past year. From January through August 2011, 23 percent of Porsche buyers were female, compared to 19 percent during the same period last year. The growth accounts for a 21.1 percent proportional change, year over year.

Edmunds.com's analysis found that eight of the ten car brands with the fastest growing female market shares were domestic automakers. Among those domestic brands, Buick has made the largest market share gains among women, increasing the proportion by 8.6 percent year over year.

Trailing just behind Buick were Dodge (+7.4%) and Chevrolet (+6.5%). Luxury Japanese make Infiniti (+6.1%) was next, at +6.1%, followed by GMC (+3.8%), Ford (+3.2%), Lincoln (+2.9%), Jeep (+2.8%) and Chrysler (+2.7%).

Overall, 39 percent of all new cars have been registered by women in the U.S. this year, essentially flat compared to last year. While women accounted for 23% of total Porsche buyers so far this year, their shares of the other nine brands on the list were: Buick, 38%; Dodge, 29%; Chevrolet, 33%; Infiniti, 35%; GMC, 27%; Ford, 32%; Lincoln, 36%; Jeep, 37%; and Chrysler, 38%.

"One thing that these ten brands have in common is that their shares of female buyers all fall below the industry average of 39 percent," notes Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Jessica Caldwell. "It's smart for these brands to develop new and refreshed products that have a stronger appeal with women so that they don't miss out on an important part of the market."

Foreign makes dominated the list of the largest decreases in female market share. Mini has seen its market share of females shift from 48 percent in the first eight months of 2010 to 46 percent during the same period in 2011, for a proportional change of -4.2 percent. Fellow European competitors Audi (-2.9%), Volvo (-2.3%) and Volkswagen (-2.3%) are next on the list, followed by Korean automotive giant Hyundai (-2.3%).

To perform this study, Edmunds.com analysts examined new car registration data provided by Polk for the periods January 2010-August 2010 and January 2011-August 2011. Only brands selling a minimum of 1,500 vehicles to females nationwide during each time period were considered for the analysis.

The Memories of American Heroes Live On

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations came into effect. On November 11, 1919, Armistice Day was commemorated for the first time. In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed the day should be "filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory".

Veterans Day is intended to honor and thank all military personnel who served the United States in all wars, particularly living veterans. It is marked by parades and church services and in many places the American flag is hung at half mast. A period of silence lasting two minutes may be held at 11am.

Throughout both internal conflicts and world wars, America’s veterans have dedicated their lives to protecting those at home. Remember their service and bravery at one of the monuments or memorials in the region.

http://www.osceolagarage.com/

New York offers several inspiring memorials where visitors are welcome year-round, so take some time to honor America’s heroes on this day November 11, 2011

Popularity of used vehicles continues to grow.

Among the automobile buying sector, used cars are in more demand than in recent years, a new study reveals.

According to the national survey conducted by The Media Audit, 54.7% of adults who plan to buy a vehicle in the next 12 months are planning to purchase a used vehicle. 

The figure represents more than 20 million consumers across The Media Audit's 80 measured markets. 

Moreover, the demand for used cars versus new cars has been increasing. In 2006, a similar study was conducted, and used cars represented 49.4% of all automobile planned purchases. As a result, the demand for used cars among car buyers has increased by 10% over five years.

Correspondingly, the demand for new cars has diminished. The same study reveals that among adults planning to purchase a vehicle, 37.8% plan to buy a new vehicle, compared to 43.8% in 2006. The figure represents a decline of 13% over the same five-year period.

Among some of the top markets for used cars are Indianapolis, IN, where 12.7% of the market's general population plans to purchase a used vehicle in the next 12 months. Charleston, SC, ranks second with 11.5% who plan to buy a used vehicle, followed by Oklahoma City, OK (11.2%), Memphis, TN (11.1%), and Detroit, MI (10.5%).

Rounding out the top ten markets for planned purchases of used vehicles are Sacramento, CA, where 10.1% of the local population plans to purchase a used vehicle, along with Spokane, Washington (10.1%), and Columbus, Ohio (10.1%). San Antonio, Texas (9.7%), and Kansas City, Missouri (9.6%) ranked ninth and tenth, respectively.