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Generation Y get green cars

By Alborz Fallah |

Generation Y doesn’t generally get good press, one week it’s laziness, the next week it’s lack of manners, well, this week a new survey has come out stating that members of Generation Y may have changed their mindset on how they go about purchasing a new vehicle as a result of the global financial crisis (GFC).

The global survey conducted by Deloitte, “Gen Y: Making the Short List”, asked 1,100 participants aged between 18 to 30 a series of questions regarding their attitude towards the auto industry. It found that 74 per cet of Gen Y consumers agree that the environment is an extremely important factor when purchasing a vehicle.

Other important decision making factors included high fuel efficiency and sustainable technology. In Australia, the three most important features that Gen Y look for in a car are; affordability, reliability and exterior styling/looks according to Danny Rezek, Partner Deloitte Motor Industry Services Group.

“We have found that Gen Y in Australia is starting to base their purchasing decisions on fuel efficiency and environmental impact,” said Mr Rezek.

Australian Gen Ys believe in buying a new car because they believe it provides the greatest value.

“Our generation Y is typically a group that thinks ‘newer is better’ but industry research has shown that used car sales have remained high”, said Mr Rezek.

Of course, the results are showing what the current trend is and given Gen Ys insistence for not committing to anything long term, these view points can change drastically over the next five years.

For example, the survey also found that SUVs are making a comeback. Nearly one in four (23%) American Gen Ys sees themselves driving a SUV in five years, this figure is up from 11% last year. In Australia, however, only a minor 10% of respondents believe they will be driving a 4WD in the next five years.

In some other interesting trends, online forums, blogs (such as CarAdvice) and Google remain the Gen Y’s search engines of choice when they actually want to research automotive detail before making a purchase.


 
  • Martin

    Well, I can happily say, I am a Gen Y person, and the environmental factor is non-existent when buying a car.

    If there is a more fun car out there to drive, for the same price and a bit less fuel efficient. I’d rather have it.

  • HyundaiSmoke

    Gen Y= Perfect Market for Hyundai/KIA, VAG, and Ford, with a few BMWs, and Benzes hanging around of course.

    • HyundaiSmoke

      But im right and you know it, GM/Holden will be included in that to a lesser extent.

      • Joker

        Smoke,

        You’ve virtually mentioned all the major Players bar Mazda and Toyota who a lot of Gen Y’s (particularly the Girls) will go for!

  • Joker

    *looks at his XR5* I’m in the minority again!
    I guess I’ll be more concerned about what comes out of my hip pocket as opposed the environment with my next car.
    I know this is unethical but I’ll be getting a a TSI or TD next and that’s because of over all running costs, not the environment.

  • Stoney!

    I think missed good quality stereo in the list of what we (GEN Y’s) look for hen buying a new car…. Hence I got a golf.

    Stoney!

    • HyundaiSmoke

      You’re a smart Gen Y stoney. Forget these Toyota crap box lovers.

  • MJ

    GM says its Chevy Volt will do 230 miles per gallon. That’s the kind of efficiency Gen Y will go for!

    • VBE

      I’m a GenY.
      Now, what’s this talk about gallons and miles? :p

    • HyundaiSmoke

      What are you talking about dude? The crminaly overpriced Volt, a car with an interior on par wth Geelys latest from Chongquing, will cost the same price as a Lexus in the US. Its way overpriced for gen Y, especilly for the features offered. Gen Y’s like Ashton Kutcher will be able to buy it though.

      Mazda has POS quality amd Poor Fuel Economy ratings, Ther sales have dropped like a rock in most places in the world. They might not even exitst in 10 years, much less be a Gen-Y car company. Maxda i more of a Gen X Company. Gen-X ages 32-47

      In many Countries Toyotas are for Baby Boomers, gen Y wont even touch em. As I have stated many times in here, US Toyota has a average owner age similar to Buick.

      Ewwww….. Toyota!!! What’s wrong with you guys?

      • Muse

        Wow, Smoker, you’ve added so much to the debate. Please keep talking because we all love you.

      • Joker

        Smoke,

        What are you smoking? Mazda 3′s and 2′s are massive sellers for Mazda and I’m guessing Gen Y are helping that along. You need to get your facts straight or you will keep getting shut down
        The Volt’s interior is like nothing else and secondly, have you sat in it?
        Toyota Yaris and Corolla are huge with the late teen-Twenties bracket.
        You don’t have to look far to see that. Even if us as enthusiasts don’t really dig them, the average consumer adores them.

        • HyundaiSmoke

          Yeah in Australia those cars are. But here Accent Tida/Versa and Fit/Jazz are the 3 top cars in that segment. Hyundai and Nissan are duking it out, on the small car front and Honda is a distant 3rd.

          • Muse

            This is an Australian website, the article is about Australian Gen Y’s buying preferences. Ask how many people care about what sells in America in the context of this article? Can you please keep it relevant.

          • HyundaiSmoke

            Muse, I dont get it, whats so good about Mazda 3, besides the performance, that makes it a better buy than i30?

            I think Car Advice is right, about rampant brand prejudice against Hyundai in Australia. Elantra which includes that i30CW variant sells 8K a month here easy. Mazda 3 sells in the 5-7500K a month on everage.

          • Muse

            You really don’t get it do you… When the hell did I say anything about the Mazda3? Or the i30? I think those smokey Hyundais are affecting your brain – not enough oxygen getting up there perhaps?

            I’m simply wondering why/how you’ve gotten so off track?! You’re clearly trying to baffle everyone with your ‘knowledge’ of boring cars, but your comments are not relevent to the article… How did this go from an article about GenY’s buying preferences to whoever buys Scions in USA?

            I think you’re letting your fingers do the typing before engaging your brain…

            It’s akin to spamming the comments section.

          • HyundaiSmoke

            Muse, I only used those 2 cars to prove a point, and its my fault I didnt clarify that for you. Sorry, mate.

            The point is that some of these trends that are starting to pop up in many regins globally will start to effect you guys too.

  • HyundaiSmoke

    Toyota is only getting Baby Boomer (aged 48-65) and the first half of Gen-X (Aged 40-47) Customers. That’s going to be their biggest problem in the future. How to get younger customers in the US market?

    • The Other Brad

      I see plenty of Generation Y’s driving Corolla/Yaris in South Australia. There’s an increasing amount of the 2009 Mazda 3. Couple of VW golfs but far more of the mk4/mk5 models than the mk6. Seeing more i30s on the road recently though.

  • HyundaiSmoke

    A lot of Toyota/Lexus/Scion Delaerships make it harder to get credit(bad for young people), while Hyundai/KIA, VAG,GM,Ford,Nissan/Infniti Dealerships make the credit process so easy and catered to young people.

    • http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/results.aspx?Ns=pCar_PriceSort_Decimal|1||pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294963104&tab PogO

      We don’t even have Scion over here

      • Robin Graves

        There is a lot of things in the USA I’m glad we dont get here, like Americans for one. Majority of them are intolerably annoying. I like their highway systems tho.

      • HyundaiSmoke

        Scion Daihatsu, same difference to me.

    • Neo

      HyundaiSmoke. you talk about Hyundai/KIA, VAG,GM,Ford,Nissan/Infniti Dealerships make the credit process easy? ware are you getting you information from?

  • HyundaiSmoke

    Toyota USA is going to have to figure out how to get past catering to a Generation of people (Baby Boomers) with tons of disposable income whobuy a new car every 3-7 years. The car are really of very cheap quality, but KIA can provide that for less, and in many cases they can provide more now, and in Designs that are more relevant to the times.

  • speedy

    Sorry But I can’t take you seriously as you like Hyundai’s

  • Valet Dabess

    i’m generation y, and i couldn’t care less about how eco friendly the car i’m gonna buy is

  • Schmak

    I refuse to buy eco cars.
    Why should I sacrifice ability and entertainment for mundane and expensive?
    Why should I lose stopping performance, handling and power for limited stopping abilities, no handling and no power?

    Im Gen-Y and I rarely see anyone from my generation in eco friendly vehicles. Sure some may drive four pot buzz boxes, but they are hardly eco friendly.

  • Fenno

    Hyundaismoke = Hyundai salesman or employee. You bag the chinese earlier in the piece yet Hyundai are only one step above them in percieved quality.
    They even bag Hyundai in your Gen Y movies (fast and furious 3).
    Hyundai’s product, features list and safety may have improved in the last 5 years but they are yet to build a drivers car…
    The crux of this article though is about Gen Y and what they are looking for.
    One slice of of a small demographic used in this study to give an answer will not
    give a true result – Only V facts (if they quoted buyers age) could come close and that would still be innacurate due to the huge fleet sales here in Australia –
    Fleet doesnt necessarily mean Leightons buying 30 cars but can be Bob the accountant buying a personal vehicle as a salary sacrifice through a leasing company because his company allows the scheme as a perk to its employees.
    In my wisened opinion though I would think it would be harder to tell by generation because the financial constraints are so different between the gens therefore allowing older generations a broader choice. Take money out of the equation and Gen Y most likely would all want exotica (wouldnt we all?). Instead maybe Car advice should look at Genders – That would make an interesing study. Maybe one of their own online polls.

  • Jack

    Gen Y will start with smaller cars, get larger cars/SUV’s and a second smaller car as they become working parents, then perhaps a smaller (or not, depending on success) premium purchase as they become older. The enthusiasts will buy exciting vehicles; the badge snobs will buy according to the tastes their parents raised them with. If it is possible to buy new, this will happen.

    Just like every other generation. Gen Z, you are next to be typecast.