Survey: Green Cars vs. Dream Cars

01 July, 2009 02:00:00

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A new global survey shows nearly 60 percent would rather buy a green car than a dream car, even if they had all the money in the world.

Market Research Company Synovate surveyed more than 13,500 people across 18 markets about green versus dream cars, vehicle ownership, intent to buy in the next year and their attitude to cars, traffic, public transport and their need-for-speed.

The survey, conducted in March, included the world's top passenger car markets, China and the United States.

Synovate asked respondents to forget about money for a moment and tell whether they would buy green, dream or in between.

The top answer across all 18 markets, if money were no object, was to buy a green car, with 37% of respondents saying this would be their preferred purchase. Thirty-one percent said they would buy their dream car and a further 22% claimed that 'my dream car is a green car'... meaning that 59% - or very nearly six in ten - showed the desire to go green.

Some of the highest results for 'green' (adding 'green car' to 'dream car is a green car') were Thailand at 77%, Korea at 76%, China at 75% and Brazil at 72%.

In the United States 35% would buy a dream car, 23% chose green and 19% say their dream car is a green car.

Chinese, at nearly 40 percent, were also the people most likely to take public transport more often in the next year, while Americans -- at 2 percent -- were among the least.

The nation most likely to simply elect 'green car' was Germany, with 58% choosing the environment over their dream cars.

So where can the dreamers be found? Overall, 31% of people would still choose their dream car green-be-damned, 35% of men and 27% of women.

The single biggest result for dream car came from South Africa where over half of all respondents (53%) would go for their fantasy vehicle. Similarly, 47% of Indians say they would go dream,

"Car makers are producing more and more options that will appeal to this fast-growing group of green-inclined people," says Synovate's CEO of Motorsesearch, Scott Miller.

"But we cannot forget that cars are the ultimate product when it comes to an emotional connection with people. What you drive says more about you than you think. There will always be a group of people who do not want to compromise on dream cars for green reasons. The answer? The 22% who want both are the way of the future. Car makers will produce vehicles that are dream and green."

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