Table of Contents
Executive Summary
-
- The issues
- Safety remains the top priority for family car buyers
-
- Figure 1: Technology and safety features – Five star rating, by parental status, May 2016
-
- Figure 2: Family vehicle attitudes – Crash impact rating, by parental status, May 2016
- Long family road trips are the litmus test for family cars
-
- Figure 3: Family vehicle attitudes – Road trips, by presence of children in the household by age, May 2016
- Families seek new technology in their vehicles
-
- Figure 4: Family vehicle attitudes – A family car should have the latest technology features, by presence of children in the household, May 2016
- The opportunities
- Millennials are starting families en masse
-
- Figure 5: Mean age, by birth order, US, 2000-14
- Larger families are willing to pay more for entertainment
-
- Figure 6: Technology and safety features – Vehicle-sourced Wi-Fi, by presence of children in the household, May 2016
-
- Figure 7: Technology and safety features – Rear passenger entertainment system, by presence of children in the household, May 2016
- Expecting parents are more than twice as likely to purchase a car by May 2017
-
- Figure 8: Purchase intent, by expectant vs nonexpectant parents, May 2016
- What it means
The Market – What You Need to Know
-
- SUVs and crossovers dominate the family car market
- Sedans still heavily considered
- Minivan sales level off
Market Size and Forecast
-
- Consistent growth expected for family car market
-
- Figure 9: Total US unit sales and fan chart forecast for family cars, 2011-21
Market Breakdown
-
-
- Figure 10: Total US unit sales of family cars, by segment, 2011-15
- Figure 11: Total US unit sales of family cars, by segment, 2013 and 2015
-
Market Factors
-
- Average age of first-time mothers at record high
-
- Figure 12: Share of US population by generation, 2011-21
- Figure 13: US births, by age of mother, 2014
- Low gas prices fuel larger vehicle sales, hurt EVs and hybrids
-
- Figure 14: All grades all formulations retail gasoline prices, dollars per gallon, January 2007-May 2016
- Average age of vehicles on the road continues to rise
-
- Figure 15: Average age of passenger cars and light trucks, 2002-15
Key Players – What You Need to Know
-
- Fiat Chrysler attempts to bring back the minivan with the Pacifica
- Ford sits atop the midsize crossover/SUV segment
- Hybrid and electric vehicles struggle among family car market
Manufacturer Sales
-
-
- Figure 16: Total market manufacturer shares 2014 and 2015
- Ford leads 2016 midsize crossover/SUV sales with the Explorer
- Honda has the best-selling full-size crossover/SUV, but GM has a lot more available
- Toyota’s balanced offerings places it second in overall crossover/SUV sales
- Jeep brand tows Fiat Chrysler into third in crossover/SUV sales
-
What’s Working?
-
- SUV and Crossover sales
- Autonomous safety features gaining demand
What’s Struggling?
-
- Hybrid and electric vehicles struggle to gain foothold in the family car market
What’s Next?
-
- Manufacturers put the pedal to the metal for cars without pedals
- Tesla leads the way but auto manufacturers are racing to catch up
- Fiat Chrysler revamps the minivan with the Chrysler Pacifica
-
- Figure 17: Chrysler Pacifica ad starring Jim Gaffigan, April 2016
The Consumer – What You Need to Know
-
- Families want preventative safety features
- Women interested in SUVs and crossovers place higher value on safety
- Consumers don’t want rear entertainment systems...until they have kids
Purchase Intent
-
- Expecting parents expect to buy
-
- Figure 18: Purchase intent, by expectant vs nonexpectant parents, May 2016
- More children in the household increase likelihood of purchase
-
- Figure 19: Purchase intent, by presence of children under age 18 in the household, May 2016
- Hispanics and Asians are likely to purchase soon
-
- Figure 20: Purchase intent, by race and Hispanic origin, May 2016
Type of Vehicles Planned to Purchase
-
- Sedans and SUVs reign supreme
-
- Figure 21: Types of vehicles considered, May 2016
- Women more likely to consider SUVs and crossovers than men are
-
- Figure 22: Types of vehicles considered, by gender, May 2016
- Minivans aren’t just for soccer moms, but also soccer dads
Interest in Vehicle Features and Anticipated Spend
-
- Consumers willing to pay for the latest innovations that improve safety
-
- Figure 23: Correspondence analysis – Technology and safety features, May 2016
- Parents will pay for rear entertainment once there are two or more kids
-
- Figure 24: Safety and technology features – Rear passenger entertainment system, by presence of children under 18 in the household, May 2016
Importance of Vehicle Features
-
- Large cargo space and folding rear seats appeal to many
-
- Figure 25: Cargo and passenger features May 2016
- Millennials want room for multiple child seats
-
- Figure 26: Cargo and passenger features – Room for multiple child seats, by expectant vs nonexpectant parents and Millennials vs non-Millennials, May 2016
- Expecting parents want remote powered trunks and doors
-
- Figure 27: Cargo and passenger features, by expectant vs nonexpectant parents, May 2016
Attitudes toward Family Cars
-
- Road trips make the family car
- Family cars should go the distance
-
- Figure 28: Family vehicle attitudes – Road trips and longevity, May 2016
- Millennials want a cool looking family car
-
- Figure 29: Family vehicle attitudes – A family car should look stylish/cool, by generation, May 2016
- Millennials want automatic braking and collision sensors
-
- Figure 30: Family vehicle attitudes – Automatic braking and collision sensors, by generation, May 2016
Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
-
- Data sources
- Sales data
- Fan chart forecast
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
Appendix – Market
-
-
- Figure 31: Total US unit sales and forecast of family car buying, 2011-21
- Figure 32: Total US unit sales of mainstream family cars, 2011-15
- Figure 33: Total US unit sales of luxury family cars, 2011-15
-
Appendix – Key Players
-
-
- Figure 34: Total full size car market share by manufacturer, 2014 and 2015
- Figure 35: Total full size crossover/SUV market share by manufacturer, 2014 and 2015
- Figure 36: Total midsize car market share by manufacturer, 2014 and 2015
- Figure 37: Total midsize crossover/SUV market share by manufacturer, 2014 and 2015
-
- Figure 38: Total minivan market share by manufacturer, 2014 and 2015
-
Back to top