The S.U.V. Finally Rules the American Road

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 6 -- For the first time ever, Sport Utility Vehicles have captured the overall market share lead among female new vehicle buyers, according to an analysis by R. L. Polk & Co. SUVs have led among male new vehicle buyers since 2000.

``After years of steadily gaining market share, the SUV finally can be crowned king of the American road,'' said Lonnie Miller, analytic consultant for Polk.

A Polk nationwide analysis of new vehicle retail registrations between January-October 2001 finds the Sport Utility Vehicle segment with a 23.9 percent share of the women's market. This is more than the 23.2 percent share for the Midsize Car segment - the first time SUVs have eclipsed Midsize Cars among women.

Among men, SUVs first captured overall market leadership in 2000, when the segment finally overcame Pickup Trucks as the vehicle of choice among men. From January-October 2001, SUV market leadership over pickup trucks among men was 25 percent to 21 percent.

The Ford Explorer led all Sport Utility Vehicle models among women in 2001, with 45,172 Explorers registered to women between January-October. The Jeep Grand Cherokee was the second most popular SUV among women, with 30,104 registered.

In 1996, Midsize Cars held nearly double the market share of Sport Utilities among women -- 26.1 percent to 13.5 percent. In 2000, Sport Utilities closed the gap to just 3.3 percentage points. (See Table A for more information.)

About R. L. Polk & Co.

Polk has served the automotive industry for nearly 80 years and is the longest standing curator of automobile records in the United States. Founded in Detroit in 1870, Polk launched its motor vehicle statistical operations in 1922 when the first car registration reports were published. The company now provides automotive solutions to nearly every segment of the motor vehicle industry as an analytical consultant and statistician, as a provider of database-marketing services, and as a supplier of vehicle histories. Based in Southfield, Mich., Polk is a privately held global firm, currently operating in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Polk is pleased to present the sixth annual Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards at the 2002 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS 2002). For more information, including highlights of the awards ceremony, visit www.polk.com on the Internet.

R. L. Polk & Co. is an official sponsor of NAIAS 2002.

Table A: U.S. Market Share (Female) Source: R. L. Polk & Co.'s industry-leading automobile registration database

    Segment            1996       1997    1998     1999      2000     2001
                                                                   (Jan.-Oct.)
    Small Car          20.9%      20.7%   19.5%    18.4%     19.2%    18.3%
    Midsize Car        26.1%      25.3%   25.3%    25.0%     24.1%    23.2%
    Large Car           3.8%       3.4%    2.8%     2.4%      2.0%     1.8%
    Luxury Car          7.3%       7.9%    7.8%     7.9%      7.9%     8.2%
    Sport Car           5.0%       4.4%    3.9%     4.1%      4.3%     4.3%
    Van/Mini            7.8%       7.6%    7.4%     7.6%      7.4%     6.2%
    Sport Utility      13.5%      15.8%   17.8%    19.2%     20.8%    23.9%
    Pickup             15.2%      14.6%   15.1%    15.1%     14.0%    13.9%
    Other               0.4%       0.4%    0.3%     0.2%      0.2%     0.3%
    Totals              100%       100%    100%     100%      100%     100%