What do Malaysians want in a new car? This was recently answered in a survey recently conducted by Ford where approximately 8 out of every 10 surveyed in Malaysia (or 83%) said that fuel efficiency is more important when purchasing a new car. That is just one conclusion of a survey of more than 9,500 drivers in 11 markets across the Asia Pacific region conducted on behalf of Ford Motor Company in June 2016.
When asked the reasons for prioritising fuel efficiency, 87 percent of respondents from Malaysia cited the need to save money. Other top reasons included an interest in being more environmentally friendly (63 %) and concerns about high fuel prices (60%). In fact, fuel efficiency is such a major factor that more than one-third (38%) of drivers who currently own a powerful car say that they regret not purchasing a more fuel-efficient vehicle.
Now Ford has some pretty efficient small cars which I do enjoy driving - The Fiesta EcoBoost, the Focus EcoBoost and the Ecosport. Well, the Ecosport is good, but not as great as the other mentioned.
I have to add that the 17% who did not say so are somewhat like me who are not really bothered and actually love the power and I would leave saving the penguins so someone else - the 83% I suppose. So my favourite Fords are those larger ones like the Mondeo, SMAX (the fastest MPV you can buy in Malaysia) and the Mustangs. Obviously. Petrol and diesel runs through my veins.
But the most unsurprising thing that the survey says that 1 in 3 (37 %) of those surveyed admit that they do not consider the total cost of ownership – fuel and vehicle maintenance – when shopping for a new car. I say. This is terrible. You HAVE to factor everything from road tax, insurance, tyre costs (especially tyre costs) and maintenance.
But do read on. You may or may not agree with the press release below!
PRESS RELEASE
What 8 in 10 Malaysians Want in a New Car: It's Not Power
Eighty three percent of Malaysian consumers say fuel efficiency is more important
than power when buying a new car
A desire to save money is the top reason for choosing more fuel efficient cars. An
interest in being more environmentally friendly follows closely behind
Survey on the importance of fuel efficiency commissioned by Ford Motor Company
covers 9,500 drivers across 11 markets in the Asia Pacific region, including 786
Malaysian respondents
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, August 25, 2016 – When it comes to buying a new car, more
than 83 percent of Malaysian consumers say that fuel efficiency is more important than power.
That is just one conclusion of a survey of more than 9,500 drivers in 11 markets across the Asia
Pacific region conducted on behalf of Ford Motor Company in June 2016.
When asked the reasons for prioritising fuel efficiency, 87 percent of respondents from Malaysia
cited the need to save money. Other top reasons included an interest in being more
environmentally friendly (63 percent) and concerns about high fuel prices (60 percent).
In fact, fuel efficiency is such a major factor that more than one-third (38 percent) of drivers who
currently own a powerful car say that they regret not purchasing a more fuel-efficient vehicle.
“We conducted this survey to learn more about what consumers’ attitudes are towards fuel
efficiency when they are shopping for a new car,” said Kevin Tallio, chief engineer, Engine
Engineering, Ford Asia Pacific. “Fuel efficiency remains one of the top concerns. Drivers
continue to be sensitive to fuel costs, no matter what the price is at the pump.”
The survey revealed that the need to save money was also reflected in fuel-purchasing habits.
Many Malaysians said they already apply tactics to save at the pump, such as only visiting fuel
stations where they get points for filling up (55 percent). Thirty one percent say that they wait for
lower fuel prices before topping up, and 20 percent always use a discount coupon.
Drivers are starting to change their driving behaviors too. More than 47 percent say that they will
change their driving habits to use less fuel and 36 percent of consumers are planning on driving
less over the next 12 months.
These thrifty behaviors extend to what Malaysians would do if they could save even more on
fuel. More than three quarters of respondents (77 percent) said that if they saved 20 percent on
fuel every month, they would put the extra money towards their savings. Another 54 percent say
that they would put the money towards their family. The rising cost of living due to the unstable
economy has had a profound impact on Malaysians’ willingness to spend.
This all coincides with a general wariness about Malaysia’s fuel prices. Sixty eight percent of
respondents say they don’t trust fuel prices to stay stable over the next year.
But while Malaysians are eager to protect themselves from the sting of the pump, surprisingly
many are unaware of longer-term strategies for saving money:
One in three (37 percent) of those surveyed admit that they do not consider the total cost
of ownership – fuel and vehicle maintenance – when shopping for a new car
Only 37 percent say that they would invest more money at the time of purchase on a
more efficient engine in order to save money on future fuel costs
However, there may be signs that behaviors are changing. Many consumers who are planning
to buy a new car in the next year are considering more fuel-efficient vehicles:
Fifty two percent plan to buy a vehicle with a more fuel efficient engine
Thirty nine percent plan to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle
Twenty one percent plan to downsize to a smaller vehicle
However, their choice is made difficult by the fact that Malaysians also value performance. More
than half (68 percent) of all respondents say they consider performance as a factor when buying
a new car. City residents disproportionately said that they were motivated by performance (70
percent vs. 59 percent of rural residents).
“Today’s consumers are well-informed and educated. They expect their vehicle to return
excellent fuel economy without compromising on the engine’s performance. Whether it is
maneuvering through busy KL traffic or cruising down the highway, it is important to consumers
that the power they need is available,” said David Westerman, managing director, Malaysia and
Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company.
It was exactly this need to offer the combination of fuel efficiency and power that drove Ford to
develop the EcoBoost family of engines. Since 2009, EcoBoost engines have been showered
with awards, in fact the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine was voted best in class at the 2016
International Engine of the Year Awards for the fifth year in a row. EcoBoost technology can
now be found under the hoods of more than 20 Ford nameplates around the world – from the
feisty Fiesta to the iconic Mustang.
"EcoBoost gives drivers mileage when they need it and power when they want it,” said Tallio.
“When driven efficiently, EcoBoost technology has the capability to help save on fuel, save you
money in the long run and reduce CO2 emissions. And when that extra ‘oomph’ is needed, it
provides effortless performance.”
About EcoBoost
The centerpiece of Ford’s fuel-economy improvement efforts for petrol-powered engines is
EcoBoost technology, which uses turbocharging, variable-valve timing and direct fuel injection
along with reduced displacement to deliver significant vehicle fuel-efficiency gains and CO2
reductions, relative to larger displacement engines, without sacrificing vehicle performance.
In response to consumers’ needs, Ford now offers EcoBoost’s fuel-economy benefits
throughout its product lineup. Ford’s rapid deployment of EcoBoost in high volumes across a
wide array of our vehicle nameplates is helping consumers make a significant step forward in
CO2 emission reductions.
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For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.
Follow at www.facebook.com/FordMalaysia or www.youtube.com/FordMsia
In Malaysia, EcoBoost engines are available in seven nameplates, including: Fiesta, Fiesta ST,
Focus, S-MAX, Mondeo, Kuga and Mustang.
About the Ford Survey
This online survey was conducted by GlobalWebIndex on behalf of Ford Motor Company. 9,509
consumers were surveyed across 11 markets: Australia (1,026 respondents), China (1,011
respondents), Hong Kong (784 respondents), India (1,023 respondents), Malaysia (786
respondents), New Zealand (774 respondents), Philippines (783 respondents), South Korea
(760 respondents), Taiwan (762 respondents), Thailand (1,026 respondents) and Vietnam (774
respondents). Fieldwork was concluded in June 2016.
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