Swedes Turning Away From Big Cars

As is the case in the United States, auto buyers in Sweden also favor large cars like wagons, SUVs, and pickup trucks. Of course, the fact that Volvo and Saab are manufacturers of large vehicles are based in Sweden points out the obvious. The affinity of Swedes for large cars is considered the most compared to other Europeans.

Victoria Klintberg, a Swedish teacher said that: “We're real Svenssons. We have to have a station wagon. Another Swede, the 76-yer old Olle Maberg said this about his Volvo XC70: “It feels much safer to be in a big car than in a small one.”

Similar to American car buyers though, the Swedes are also affected by the increasing price of in the world market. Not only is the increasing price of the reason why Swedes are now turning away from large vehicles. The growing concern on the threat of global warming has Swedish car buyer opting for more environment friendly vehicles which are smaller in nature.

According to a statistics from the European Union, Sweden has the highest level of pollution emitting vehicles in Western Europe. Most of these vehicles are Volvos or Saabs which are large vehicles naturally with large engines. These vehicles of course consume more petroleum fuel which also increases the amount of greenhouse gas emitted by the vehicles.

The notoriety of Swedes in terms of the number of pollution emitting vehicles is apparent in 2004. During that year, the average new car on the country members of the European Union produced 163 grams of carbon dioxide every kilometer traveled, the average in Sweden is 196 grams per kilometer.

The increasing threat of global warming has Swedes looking for ways to cut down emission of vehicles driven in the country. This effort is parallel to what fellow European country Germany is doing. Germans are also known for their affinity for large vehicles made by their car manufacturers.

The effort to cut down emission was given more attention when the European Union passed a stricter emission regulation. This of course poses a dilemma for Swedes who are known to be loyal to their car manufacturers. But both Volvo and Saab are making headway in producing environmentally-friendly vehicles. Volvo vehicles can be fitted with Volvo aftermarket parts to make them fuel efficient.

Aside from that, these car manufacturers are also producing flex-fuel vehicles. These vehicles are designed to run on both and a combination of and ethanol. Many Volvo models are now being offered in the Swedish auto market with flex fuel capability.

Small cars which are obviously more fuel

efficient and environment friendly vehicles are also being developed and produced by both Saab and Volvo. These vehicles are seen as the solution to the dilemma faced by Swedes. By offering fuel efficient and environment friendly vehicles, they will not be alienating their loyal buyer base in the country and at the same time takes a step to protect the environment.

Aside from that Volvo and Saab are now developing large vehicles with low emissions. Advanced emission filtration features are now being developed by Saab and Volvo. These devices will be used on future vehicles which will be large but at the same time, produce only a small amount of greenhouse gas.