Record Sales for Sports Utility Vehicles

 

By John Russell

15 January 2020

2019 was a good year for sport utility vehicles, or SUVs.

Rising demand for SUVs drove record sales for German carmakers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

But some observers worry that their popularity could lead to more pollution from such vehicles and a reduction in the environmental benefits of electric cars.

SUV sales

BMW reported last week that it sold a record 2,168,516 vehicles last year. The Reuters news agency says the record resulted, in part, from a 21% increase in sales of the company's "X" model SUVs. These models now make up around 40% of BMW's sales worldwide.

At Mercedes-Benz, the world's best-selling premium¹ car line, every third luxury car sold last year was an SUV.

To try to meet stronger pollution rules, many automakers are investing a lot of money in electric vehicles. But it is unclear how many drivers will buy them.

Concerns

The International Energy Agency, or IEA, warned in its World Energy Outlook 2019 report that large SUV sales could create a problem for the environment.

"Consumer preferences for SUVs could offset² the benefits from electric cars," the report said.

It added that "SUVs are more difficult to electrify³ fully⁴, and conventional SUVs consume 25 percent more fuel per kilometer than medium-sized cars."

SUVs were the second-largest contributor to the increase in carbon dioxide emissions⁵ since 2010, said the IEA. Carbon dioxide is found naturally in Earth's atmosphere. But many scientists believe that it and other gases released by human activities are to blame for rising temperatures on our planet.

There are now more than 200 million SUVs around the world, up from about 35 million in 2010.

"If the popularity of SUVs continues to rise in line with recent trends, this could add another 2 million barrels per day to our projection⁶ for 2040 oil demand," the IEA reported.

Response

BMW and Mercedes-owner Daimler say their vehicles are among the most fuel efficient available. They add that people could also choose to buy smaller, less costly⁷ cars instead of SUVs.

Both German carmakers say they hope to set new sales records this year. They are preparing to launch fully electric SUVs, which they say shows their desire for a cleaner future.

While confirming the growing popularity of SUVs, Germany's powerful automobile⁸ industry group VDA said much of the demand was for more efficient models.

Future sales trends

Electric and hybrid⁹ vehicles made up only 3.9 percent of new European sales in the three-month period from July through September 2019.

Peter Fuss, a partner at Ernst & Young, said German carmakers pushed sales of SUVs last year before stronger clean air rules took effect in Europe.

"We will not see the same growth rates in this segment as we did last year," Fuss said.

Electric car registrations¹⁰ are expected to climb in the middle of this year, he added. But that will depend on drivers being prepared to buy them, and perhaps also on how low manufacturers are prepared to cut prices.

Words in This Story

benefit – n. something producing good or helpful results

premium - adj. of high or higher than normal quality

preference - n. a feeling of liking¹¹ or wanting one person or thing more than another person or thing

consume – v. to spend or use up

contributor – n. someone or something that provides something

trend - n. something that is currently popular

compact – n. a small automobile

hybrid – adj. related to or involving a vehicle that powered by traditional motor fuel and electricity

segment - n. a part of something that is separate from the other parts or can be considered separately

1 premium   

n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的

参考例句：

• You have to pay a premium for express delivery.寄快递你得付额外费用。
• Fresh water was at a premium after the reservoir was contaminated.在水库被污染之后，清水便因稀而贵了。

2 offset   

n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿

参考例句：

• Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
• He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。

3 electrify   

v.使充电；使电气化；使触电；使震惊；使兴奋

参考例句：

• The country is now making effort to electrify and informationize manufacture.国家正在致力于制造业的电气化和信息化。
• He needs money to electrify his surface lines.他需要钱把他的地面线路电气化。

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

6 projection   

n.发射，计划，突出部分

参考例句：

• Projection takes place with a minimum of awareness or conscious control.投射在最少的知觉或意识控制下发生。
• The projection of increases in number of house-holds is correct.对户数增加的推算是正确的。

7 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

8 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

9 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

10 registrations   

n.登记( registration的名词复数 )；登记项目；登记（或注册、挂号）人数；（管风琴）音栓配合（法）

参考例句：

• In addition to the check-in procedures, the room clerks are customarily responsible for recording advance registrations. 除了办理住宿手续外，客房登记员按惯例还负责预约登记。 来自辞典例句
• Be the Elekta expert for products registrations in China. 成为在中国注册产品的医科达公司专家。 来自互联网

11 liking   

n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢

参考例句：

• The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
• I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。