Shoppers Still Researching GM, Chrysler Cars
As of April, searches for new and used GM cars on Cars.com were up more than 5 percent year over year, and they’ve continued that trend throughout May. Beyond just consumer searches, more Cars.com users have contacted GM dealers asking about a car or truck this year than did last year.
For Chrysler, it’s much the same story. Search activity and dealer contacts were steady through April, and in May the number of consumers contacting Chrysler dealers has been on the rise.
Of course, some of this could be attributed to consumers out looking to take advantage of hefty rebates, but the trend has been relatively steady for the past year. The possibility of bankruptcy has been in front of consumers for quite some time, and it appears that it hasn’t deterred shoppers from considering these cars as they return to the market.
On top of that, a recent Cars.com survey found that 59% of consumers said the current economy and struggles of American car manufacturers would have no impact on whether their next car purchase will be an American car.
The fact that consumer interest on Cars.com has remained steady for GM and Chrysler should be good news for both troubled automakers, especially as they look to emerge from bankruptcy.
