If good things come in small packages, car buyers are in for a nice ride, experts say.
After a decade in which horsepower and interior space drove innovation in the automotive world, many of the gems of this year’s international car shows are small cars with fuel-efficient engines.
Chattanooga remains a strong light-truck and SUV market, but local dealerships report healthy interest in the new wave of smaller vehicles.
Nissan’s new Leaf plug-in electric car, for example, is to be produced in nearby Smyrna, Tenn., and Volkswagen’s new plant here is dedicated to clean, green technology.
“I think in general when we see gas prices go up we see increased awareness and desire (for fuel-efficient cars),” said Ken Hunt, of Hunt Nissan.