Automobile Retailers

Long-haul trucks may be experiencing some growth, but SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) suggests that the sales of standard trucks and SUVs for personal use are taking a huge tumble in the market.

SEMA’s research was conducted between the top-20 selling pickups from January to April 2008 relative to the same timeframe in 2007. Pick-up sales have dropped 17% compared to last year’s sales, but there has been some good news for the Toyota Tundra, which was up 25%, and the Ford Ranger, which was up 12%. Every other truck on the market suffered from the 17% plunge, however.

It is the SUV industry that took the biggest hit. Driving through any suburban area might not exemplify this notion, but SUV sales dropped a massive 27%. Only two SUVs survived the plunge: Toyota’s Sequoia, which was up 17.9%, and the Chrysler Aspen, which was up 11.3%.

It’s not all bad news, though. CUVs are growing. The crossover market has experienced growth because of the squeeze at the pumps, as consumers still want to drive something they feel protects them from the rigours of the road and from inevitable accidents. In this respect, the CUV has taken its rightful place and may well exceed the SUV and truck market with another good year.

Consumers are buying CUVs at a steady rate and, once again, Toyota is experiencing growth in this sector in contrast to other companies. The Scion xB is near the top of the list, joining the popular Ford Edge and Suzuki XL-7. The Jeep Patriot has experienced significant gains as well, almost tripling its output from the previous year.

The biggest drops on the market are easy to spot and easier to rectify. The Nissan Titan and Dodge Dakota “led the way” in the truck category, each dropping a whopping 42% in sales compared to last year’s same time period. As for SUVs, the Jeep Commander dropped a massive 44.4% with Toyota’s FJ Cruiser behind it with a 39.1% drop. Most CUVs saw growth, with a rare exception being the Chrysler PT Cruiser, which while being all the rage when it first came out is now down 35% from last year.

Reading the title, one might think I’m describing some sort of Conan-esque mythological character. Instead, the Axor is the name for the new Mercedes-Benz commercial truck. The launch for the Axor came this week as Benz unveiled the new 6×4 monstrosity to the public.

While the truck industry’s sales are expected to drop, Mercedes-Benz still expects to sell around 8% more than last year. With business projections looking up, Mercedes-Benz is putting a lot of stock into its new Axor. So far this year the over-3.5 ton truck segment experienced growth of about 10% compared to the 15.43% fall in the passenger market, which is good news for producers of large trucks.

The Axor was built by Mercedes-Benz to fill the gaps between the premium Actros tractors and the Atego trucks. Targeted by and large at fleet customers looking to outfit their repertoire with a solid brand name, the Axor is a simple truck. A manual gearshift is used instead of the electronic paddle shift on the Actros, making driving the truck easier for the big rig drivers. The Axor is powered by a 12-litre straight-6 engine.

While learning about the Axor may not mean that much to the average driver who doesn’t take long-haul trips across the country, it is interesting the note the growth in the transport truck sector and how Mercedes-Benz has risen to the challenge of creating a powerful production truck for fleet consumers.

The release of the Axor comes on the heels of the news that the 40-ton Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor-trailer combination made the Guinness Book of World Records for being the most economical truck of its class. Consuming 19.44 litres of diesel per 100km was good enough to get put in the book. The Actros was tested for a seven-day round-the-clock examination.

So with Mercedes-Benz certainly making waves in the world of transport trucks and producing fuel efficient big rigs to fill market gaps, other facets of the company will likely reflect the success. Keep your eyes on Mercedes-Benz.

Going to the dealership to get a new car can be a daunting experience. But it really doesn’t have to be. In fact, with a few tips, you can actually get a great deal on a car that you really want. Before you get nervous about the thought of visiting a dealer, consider these suggestions.

1. Have an idea of the type of car and model you want to buy. Don’t just show up at the dealership without researching the types of cars that fit your lifestyle and budget. That’s the easiest way to spend more than you can afford. Are you looking for a performance vehicle or a family van? Do you want a six-cylinder or eight-cylinder engine? Would you prefer a hybrid or a fuel-powered vehicle? Narrow it down and then you can just tell the dealer so he can point you in the right direction.

2. Shop for cars on the web first. Before going to your local dealer, see if any particular auto companies are offering cash rebates or other incentives. This might factor into your decision of the type of car you want to purchase.

3. Time your purchase just right. You can usually get better deals at the end of summer and at the end of the year when dealers are trying to make room for new inventory.

4. Be prepared. The best thing you can do in order to get a great deal is be informed. There’s an adage that says something about information being the best tool for negotiating. That’s true in any business transaction, especially when buying a car. Know what other dealers are charging for the same models and other bits of information so you can make the best and most informed decision.

Now that you know how to get a great deal, why not visit a local Pontiac dealer and check out their inventory? There’s never been a better time than the present!