US Auto Industry Market

1343 Words3 Pages

The U. S. auto industry's share of the market has experienced fluctuations over the past 50 years. These fluctuations have been caused by many reasons which include quality, price, and foreign competition. The Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, and the Chrysler Corporation are the three largest manufacturers of automobiles in the world. These three companies hold nearly 75% of the market and produce over 8 million automobiles per year. The largest competitors of these three companies are Japanese auto producers that include Toyota, Nissan, and Honda. These three foreign manufacturers hold 20% of the market and produce about 2.7 million automobiles per year. They all have adopted e-business/commerce services and pushed the U.S. auto industry into a different area. In future, there will be more technological innovation involved in the auto industry, which will also change the customers' demand of the market and the way of operating business for car sellers as well.

Information Technology (IT) has made it possible for consumers to become "picky" about the products they buy. IT has made it possible for people to research features and prices on just about everything from personalized ink pens to computer hardware. An area that has really been affected by this phenomenon is the automobile industry.

Two ways the automobile manufacturers have become effect are moving upscale or down-market or both and slicing and dicing their cars and trucks to fit ever narrower niches. Even companies such as Mercedes and BMW finding it necessary to move their marketing focus just to stay competitive. Cobb explains, "But like other automakers who have expanded their reach by moving up...

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...ess opportunities along with new customers. Automakers can allow customers to view and purchase cars online with desired features without having to go to the dealership and perform complicated transactions.

As you can see due to the advances in IT there are definitely new marketing opportunities that may open. Not only will there be websites that allow customers to view how a vehicle will look and cost in the configuration they most desire. Also there is the possibility for new businesses to open where people will have the option to buy or possibly rent a body for their vehicle platform for the short time use.

Works Cited

Cobb, James G., "Niche Mania! ", New York Times (Late Edition (East Coast), New York, N.Y.: Oct 23, 2002. pg. G.1

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