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According to real-time retail transaction data from the Power Information Network (PIN) a division of J.D. Power and Associates, compact vehicles are still gaining a greater share of the US new vehicle market as more models of compact cars are made available for consumers.

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The compact share of the total new vehicle market rose from 27.9% in 2005 to 31.2% in 2006. During that time, the share of the midsize vehicles dropped from 42.8% to 40.4% while the share of the large vehicles plummets from 29.3% to 28.5%. It should be noted that six years ago specifically in the year 2000, compact vehicles accounted for just 23.8% of the market.

According to Tom Libby, Senior Director of Industry Analysis at PIN, “Growth in the compact vehicle segments is being driven, in part, by an increase in the number of models and the popularity of small crossover vehicles.”

Aside from the increase in the number of available compact models, price, styling and functionality are additional factors that contribute to the compact vehicle share growth. Libby also stressed that the prices of gas in 2006 may have caused some consumers to shy away from purchasing larger cars and trucks. Not to mention the high maintenance and repair cost of auto body parts of larger cars and trucks.

Libby further stated, “It will be interesting to see if prices stabilize at or below .00 a gallon, whether we see a return to larger vehicles…I don’t think we will.”

Due to the popularity of compact vehicles they are moving off dealer lots more quickly than they used to and are sold quicker than the typical new vehicle. Last December 2006, five out of the seven segments with the fastest turn rates were compact vehicle segments, with the compact premium CUV (28 days) ranking 1st and the compact basic car (35 days) segments ranking second.

Segment loyalty of compact vehicle owners specifically in the non-luxury sector is also increasing. Likewise, percentage of owners of both midsize and large non-luxury vehicles trading to a compact vehicle increased as well from 20.8% to 25.8%. There is also an increase from 7% to 9.1% among large non-luxury vehicle drivers.

And for this year, 2007, seven compact models have made their debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The seven compact models that were introduced focused on new smaller crossovers and more conventional small cars—and that’s according to Jeff Schuster, Executive Director of J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Forecasting.

Among the vehicles introduced during the 2007 NAIAS includes Ford Focus, Nissan Rogue, Volvo XC60 and some small crossover entries from Infiniti, Lexus, Cadillac and Audi. Volume in this segment is also expected to quadruple from 40,000 units in 2006 to 160,000 units by 2008, according to Schuster.

PIN Reports Compact Vehicles Continuously Gain Share in the US Market

If you have been following what’s going on in the news these days, it’s easy to see that a lot of great things have been happening for Honda customers. It seems like Honda has been quite busy lately thinking up new ways to introduce some new high volume vehicles. For people who were looking for more fuel efficency, the Honda Fit was introduced to North American not that long ago. This was Honda’s way of providing city dwellers with a fuel efficient commuter that also has plenty of cargo space.

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With the arrival of the all-new 2008 Accord, there is cause for celebration. If we Look at the all new redesigned vehicle, we see that it is a very practical and unassuming car. For more than three decades, we baby boomers have matured, along with the Honda Accord. This shows us that these latest Hondas prove that maturity can also mean excellence. Equipped with a V6 engine, six-speed manual transmission, and plenty of extras the Accord actually becomes fun to drive.

With the introduction of the all new CR-Z concept car, Honda is pushing the limits on bringing true sport and the latest technology together. This new breed of vejicle is poised to set Honda apart from it’s competitors in the Hybrid market. Honda calls the CR-Z a lightweight sports car, indicating that it will have the performance to backup its sporty looks. The interior design of the CR-Z has the look and feel of a Hi-tech and Sporty vehicle, which has been achieved by a very futuristic instrument panel. Honda also designed the interior to seem very airy and spacious by using mesh material on a simple framework.

Next we see the Honda SUT Concept which is a next-generation truck concept that takes a clean slate approach to the light-duty truck segment. It combines a roomy and practical SUV-style interior and a pickup-style cargo bed with traditional Honda strengths. This includes refined styling, superior ergonomics, innovative design and world-class build quality.

The truck market is evolving to meet the changing tastes of a new generation of truck buyers, so the Honda SUT Concept takes this evolution to the next level with higher levels of refinement and sophistication in a sporty and socially responsible package with Honda durability, quality and reliability.

And finally, Honda has recently confirmed it’s plans to bring the exciting “green” cars into production. The FCX hydrogen fuel cell car and a lightweight, hybrid sportscar will both be built – with a production version of the FCX making its debut next month. ear And next, based on the FCX concept, the all-new FCV will be marketed to fleet and retail customers in both the U.S. and Japan. The Honda FCV will provide all the creature comforts and safety most expect while the undisclosed specifications of the Honda V Flow fuel cell stack will provide performance equivalent to most modern day sedans while producing zero emissions other than water and heat.

So as you can see, Honda customers have a lot to look forward to as Honda continues to look at the future of vehicle engineering for a whole new generation of drivers.

Honda Customers Seeing A Whole New Generation Of Vehicles