US consumers are starting to buy smaller cars with better fuel economy rather than large trucks and sporty vehicles, figures have shown.

While sales of cars dropped to their lowest level since 1992, small cars are on the increase with compact cars and hybrids proving popular.

Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Sales President, claimed that these models would continue to lead the way as oil prices increase.

Statistics from Autodata show that sales of passenger cars were up by five per cent while sales of trucks and sport utility vehicles dropped by 17.4 per cent.

"Consumer preference is shifting and we're shifting with it," Mark LaNeve, Vice President, GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing, told the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, George Pipas, a Sales Analyst at Ford, said that customers were trading in pickup trucks because they were realising that they did not need the "utility" of the models.

The figures showed that Toyota and Nissan had been forced to change plans to enter the truck market.

Source:

US car sales shift gear, 04/05/08
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