Rising Gas Prices Not Affecting Local Car Buying Habits
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – As of Thursday morning the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gas is $3.82 in the Twin Cities. That's 60 cents higher than a month ago.
The rising cost of gasoline has so far not affected Minnesota buying habits when it comes to new car sales, according to the Minnesota Automobile Dealership Association.
"The Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado remain the top sellers in Minnesota on a per vehicle basis," says MADA vice president Scott Lambert.
The active outdoors' lifestyle of most Minnesotans is likely to keep full-size pick-ups and SUVs on the top sellers list despite a bump in small car sales seen elsewhere in the country.
"We don't have the final figures yet but we are looking at sales of fuel efficient and hybrid car sales hovering at about three percent of the overall market, and that usually doesn't change much," says Lambert.
Lambert says that fuel prices have to demonstrate a sustained rise and over several seasons for it to change the overall sales picture in Minnesota.
"People like to hunt, pull their boats and snowmobiles and have plenty of room for the family," he says.
