Car Biz Weekly

All drivers are no doubt enjoying the current price of gas, which has fallen dramatically since the record high gas prices we faced during summer. While this is certainly an exciting relief, some expect it’s a bad sign of things to come.

It was only when gas prices spiked that consumers and the media turned against the Big Three for producing truck- and SUV-heavy lineups. It seemed like overnight consumers and critics began demanding compacts and hybrids, rather than snapping up their bulky sport utilities like they had done previously. As a result, Detroit did their best to respond, introducing new plans such as the Chevrolet Volt, or Chrysler electric sports car, Jeep, and minivan. Ford also introduced new hybrid plans.

While the promise of these cars sounds extremely encouraging, there are unforeseen problems with these plug-in hybrids, fuel cells, and electric vehicles. When they finally become available in dealer showrooms, such as Hartford Chrysler dealers which are eagerly anticipated the all-new Chevy Volt, they will come with steep price tags. While the technology and the efficiency will no doubt get consumers excited and even drive them to dealers, the premiums may be too much to make them strong sellers, especially if the current recession looms for several years. What if gas prices remain low? Orlando Chevrolet dealers and others wonder, will consumers still demand and flock to these new cars that are making their way down the pipeline at domestic and Japanese automakers?

Consumers are fickle, and should gas prices remain low, Louisville Chevy admit it could be interesting to see if these new cars will sit on dealer lots in the same way SUVs and trucks are sitting on dealer lots right now. Perhaps we’ll see another public outcry for the automakers to build vehicles that consumer want to buy. While it may seem an unlikely scenario, time will be the judge.

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