Why Do People Buy Trucks – 2013 Edition
In 2009, I wrote a post titled “Why Do People Buy Trucks” that explained the most common reasons consumers gave for buying a pickup. This data came from Ford market research:
As you can see, towing and work dominate the results, with about 1 in 6 buyers buying because of “image.”
While I believe these numbers understate the “image” market (a lot of the “towing” people talk about is infrequent and well within the capabilities of smaller vehicles), it’s the best data we have about the purpose people have in mind when they buy a truck.
However, this data doesn’t shed much light on how people decide to buy a specific make and model. Fortunately, recent data published by JD Power paints a very interesting picture. Read more…
Project Great White – Featured Truck
It isn’t that often we come across a truck that looks powerful and clean with just the right amount of modifications. Through in the fact it is owned by a woman in an admittedly male dominated truck market and we took a double-take. Simply put this truck, BLOWS US AWAY!
A beautiful beach scene made better with this awesome 2010 Toyota Tundra.
eVOLVE™ Hybrid Wheels – Another Futuristic Gas Saving Wheel
When the Ford F-150 Atlas concept showed off its electronically controlled active wheel shutters, we knew it wasn’t going to be cheap or durable. However, there is a new alternative that shows just as much fuel saving promise – eVOLVE™ Hybrid Wheels.
Will these futuristic wheels replace all stock manufacture wheels?
Your Guide to DIY Wheel Painting – Like a Boss
You work hard and you deserve your truck candy. Let’s face it. Steel wheels can make even the most beastly mecha-Tundra look like an over-sized Power Wheels. Whether you’re a DIY junkie or looking to outsmart a wiry bank account, this DIY guide will get you the crisp, clean look you deserve for under $50. Read more…
Numbers Show Tundra Is Poised to Eclipse GMC Sierra, Possibly Overtake Ram 1500
Over the last few weeks, PickupTrucks.com has published both 2012 half-ton retail sales figures and 2012 total half-ton sales, which gives us the data we need to talk about “fleet mix,” or the percentage of trucks that Ford, GM, Ram-Fiat, Toyota, and Nissan sell to fleets.
- F-150 sales – 19.1% fleet
- Sierra 1500/Silverado 1500 sales – 11.5% fleet
- Ram 1500 – 12.3% fleet
- Tundra – 4.2% fleet
- Titan – 16.5% fleet
These numbers show that Ford is the king of fleet sales, and that Toyota doesn’t depend on fleet transactions nearly as much as the rest of the truck manufacturers listed.
Why does this matter? Because fleet sales should never be compared to retail sales, as a fleet buyer has very little in common with a retail buyer (more on that below). Yet despite this inequality between a fleet buyer and a retail buyer, Ford, GM, and Ram-Fiat are never shy about quoting total sales numbers (which include fleet) and then using these numbers to brag about their “increased share.”
Specifically, if we look at retail numbers only, Toyota’s share of the retail half-ton truck market is about 9.5%, and that number is only going to grow as the 2014 model hits the street. Read more…
