A sizable number of Americans remain less likely to buy a General Motors car because of the company’s government bailout. One-in-four says anti-buyout sentiment has kept them or someone they know from buying a GM vehicle.
Just over half of Americans think General Motors and Chrysler may repay their taxpayer bailouts, but that doesn’t change the negative view of future bailouts.
Despite renewed concerns about the price of gas, most Americans still aren’t likely to buy an electric car in the next 10 years.
Americans are no more inclined to buy a new or used car now than they were a year ago, but among those who are in the auto market Ford comes out just ahead of its American competitors.
Half of American adults nationwide believe it's at least somewhat likely that General Motors and Chrysler will repay their bailouts in full, but only one-in-five say full repayment will make them look more favorably on government bailouts in the future.
For the first time, most Americans don’t think last year’s government bailout of General Motors and Chrysler was a bad move.
When looking for a car, adults nationwide now say buying American-made is as important as finding the best deal.
Sixty-six percent (66%) of Americans still think the federal government should sell its majority ownership of General Motors to private investors as soon as possible. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 14%, want the government to retain ownership of GM for a long time. Twenty percent (20%) are undecided.
Think the auto bailouts are still unpopular?
Makers of high-priced new electric cars are hoping that federal tax credits of up to $7,500 will ease the sticker shock for consumers, and 48% of Americans like the idea of tax credits for alternative energy cars.
A sizable number of Americans say they would consider buying an electric car in the next 10 years, but they are less enthusiastic when told the price tag.
Forty-eight percent (48%) of those who plan to buy a new or used car in the next year say they are at least somewhat likely to buy either a Ford or a vehicle made by General Motors, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Fifty-three percent (53%) of Americans still think the federal government bailout of General Motors and Chrysler was a bad idea. But confidence that the money will be repaid is up.
Forty-eight percent (48%) of Americans now believe that the government has a conflict-of-interest when it comes to regulating competing automakers.
Sixty-four percent (64%) of Americans who currently own a Toyota say they are at least somewhat likely to buy their next car from the troubled automaker, including 40% who say they are very likely to do so.
Despite major announcements in recent days from both Ford and Nissan about stepped-up development of electric cars, just 17% of Americans say it is at least somewhat likely that the next car they buy will be all-electric, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Forty-four percent (44%) of Americans now say they are less likely to buy a Toyota because of the automaker’s recent large safety recalls.
Some critics have complained that the federal government is pursuing Toyota for its safety problems more aggressively than usual in order to help government-owned General Motors sell more cars.
Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Americans still hold at least a somewhat favorable view of Toyota even as the embattled automaker adds at least 300,000 2010 Prius models to the eight million cars it is already recalling worldwide over safety issues. That number includes 22% with a very favorable opinion.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 29% believe it’s more likely that GM will become profitable again rather than need additional bailouts from the federal government. Forty-five percent (45%) say the automaker is more likely to need more bailouts. Twenty-seven percent (27%) are not sure.
