BETA RESEARCH CORPORATION
SYOSSET, NEW YORK

Contact:
Jason Gorelkin, CEO, Beta Research Corporation
Phone: (516) 935-3800, ext. 248
Fax: (516) 935-4092
E-mail: jason@nybeta.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2006

Adults over 45 are more concerned about oil-related topics, while younger adults show more concern for environmental issues, according to Beta Research's Latest C-MAR™ Automotive study

Syosset, NY -- September 13, 2006: 

Recognizing the ever-changing nature of business markets, as well as the evolving attitude of consumers towards products and services, Beta Research Corp. developed the Category Market Studies Program (C-Mar) in 2006. The first in the series focuses on the Automotive industry.

To meet research objectives an Internet methodology was implemented. E-mail addresses were provided by SurveySampling.com, a well-known provider of e-mail samples. The e-mail sample was designed to reach a nationally representative sample of respondents. To qualify for the survey, respondents needed to meet the following criteria:

• Current vehicle ownership/lease or planning to purchase/lease a vehicle in the next 12 months
  
  
• Sole decision maker/involved in the decision-making process when purchasing/leasing a new vehicle
  
  
• Age 18+

The questions and their corresponding responses follow:

Q5. Using a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 means “not very important” and 5 means “extremely important,” please tell us how much of a factor each of the following is in your decision-making process when purchasing/leasing a new vehicle?

• Older respondents tend to place more importance (4/5, 5-point scale) on items such as the overall quality, dependability, comfort, and durability of a new vehicle than younger respondents, who are more concerned with issues such as whether they drive by themselves or with family/children.
  
  
• Women are more concerned (4/5, 5-point scale) than men with issues such as safety of the vehicle and whether or not they drive the vehicle with family/children.

Q4. Using a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 means “not very concerned” and 5 means “extremely concerned,” please tell us how concerned are you about each of the following issues?

• Older respondents (over 45) are more concerned (4/5, 5-point scale) about oil related issues and dependence on foreign entities for oil than younger ones, while younger respondents (under 45) are more concerned about environmental issues.

Q7. Which, if any, of the following changes to your driving patterns or behavior are you considering making to help alleviate the cost of gas?

• In order to alleviate the cost of gas, seven in ten respondents (69%) say they will drive less, while more than one-quarter (28%) say they will walk rather than drive.
  
  
• One in five respondents (21%) say they are considering purchasing a smaller, more fuel efficient vehicle and 18% say they are considering purchasing a hybrid or electric vehicle.

Drive Less		69%
Walk rather than drive		28%
Purchase/lease smaller/more efficient vehicle		21%
Purchase/lease a hybrid or electric car		18%
Carpool		15%
Use a bicycle rather than drive		15%
Purchase/lease a "flex-fuel" vehicle		12%
Use public transportation more often		12%
Other		2%
None		15%
Base: Total Respondents (n=1089)

Q8. Why did you purchase/lease a hybrid, electric or flex-fuel vehicle? Why are you considering purchasing/leasing a hybrid, electric or flex-fuel vehicle as your next vehicle?

• Among those respondents who have purchased/leased or are considering purchasing/leasing a hybrid, electric or flex-fuel vehicle, three-quarters (75%) say they purchased/leased or are considering purchasing/leasing one because it will help lessen our dependency on oil (75%), seven in ten (70%) say it is because these vehicles are cost efficient and two-thirds (65%) say it will help in protecting the environment.

Will help lessen our dependency on oil		75%
They are cost efficient		70%
Will help in protecting the environment		65%
Tax rebates for owners		40%
I like the selection that is available		27%
In general, I like to own new things		14%
I can drive in the "carpool" or "clean vehicle" lane of the highway		14%
Other		4%
No particular reason		3%
Base: Purchased/leased or considering purchasing/leasing a hybrid, electric or flex-fuel vehicle (n=243)

Q18. Using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means “no impact at all” and 5 means “a great deal of impact,” how much of an impact do you feel automobile advertising has on your decision-making process when purchasing a new vehicle?

• One-quarter of all respondents (22%) say that advertising has a strong impact (4/5 on a 5-point scale, where “5” means extremely interested) on their decision-making process when purchasing/leasing a new vehicle.
  
  
• More than two in five (43%) say that advertising has no impact on their decision-making process.

Priced at $2,300 per study, C-Mar is a highly efficient way for companies to stay current with markets in transition. Beta Research has been fielding custom and syndicated studies since 1970, and is a full service market research firm. Its methodologies span both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Clients include pharmaceutical companies, consumer goods manufacturers, healthcare organizations, media companies, direct marketers and ad agencies.

For more information on C-Mar’s Automotive Study or its upcoming Beauty Survey, contact Jason Gorelkin at 516-935-3800 or jason@nybeta.com.