The Smart Money is on Smarter Cars
GAINESVILLE, Ga. / April 15, 2010 – On highways across America, gas-chugging
SUVs are giving way to hybrids, electric cars and Smart Cars. Euan Wilson,
a researcher at the Georgia-based Socionomics Institute, says the trend
is here to stay, and that more than just concerns for fuel efficiency are
driving the transition. Cars reflect the spirit and mood of their times,
Wilson says, explaining the shift away from gas guzzlers such as GM’s Hummer,
which was officially mothballed early this year. Wilson observed that during
periods of high social mood, people favor powerful, extravagant vehicles
and concerns about gas mileage diminish. When social mood is low, however,
“The message is clear. Bigger is no longer better.”
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About The Socionomics Institute
The Socionomics Institute, based in Gainesville, Ga., studies social mood
and its role in driving cultural trends. The Institute’s analysis is published
in the monthly research review, The Socionomist. Learn more at
www.socionomics.net.
Note to Media: For copies of the studies or to arrange an interview with a researcher from the Socionomics Institute, contact Alexandra Lienhard at (770) 536-0309, alexandral@socionomics.net.