Car dealers see troops switching to fuel-efficient vehicles

Car dealers see troops switching to fuel-efficient vehicles
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Wednesday, May 21, 2008

GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — Soldiers are buying fewer sport utility vehicles and more small cars and "crossover" vehicles, according to Army and Air Force Exchange Service car salesmen.

Chris Law and Pete Thorneywork, new-car salesmen with the Grafenwöhr Exchange, said Tuesday that they are selling fewer SUVs these days. Law estimated he’s selling about 30 percent fewer SUVs than he did a few years ago.

"People are buying small cars like the Ford Focus or Fusion — a lot of the fuel-efficient cars that get about 30 miles per gallon on average," he said.

Soldiers’ move toward fuel-efficient vehicles is hardly a surprise, with Americans paying an average of $3.79 for a gallon of regular gas, according to a survey by AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

"We’re looking at $4 a gallon (for regular nationwide) once we get past Memorial Day and into June, given the oil prices we’re seeing today," said Geoff Sundstrom, a AAA fuel-price analyst.


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