More eyeing hybrids Inspired by spiking gas prices and growing concern for the environment, U.S. consumers are showing more interest in hybrid vehicles despite their higher price tag, according to a survey released Tuesday.
Auto briefs
June 25, 2008 at 10:28PM
Seventy-two percent of recent car buyers said they're definitely or probably interested in getting a hybrid for their next vehicle, up from 58 percent of consumers in 2005, the survey by marketing and consulting firm J.D. Power and Associates showed.
But once the average $5,000 price differential for a hybrid was revealed, just 46 percent said they still were interested.
Mike Marshall, director of automotive emerging technologies at J.D. Power, said rising gas prices and a heightened environmental awareness by consumers are at the root of the increased interest.
Consumers remain skeptical of clean-diesel technology, which can improve fuel economy by 30 percent over traditional engines and has a lower premium of $1,800. Just 37 percent said they were interested in the technology, the study said.
Marshall said consumers don't have much knowledge of diesel technology, but that could change as more offerings hit the market.
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