Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-19
AUTO COSTS Low,
PERFORMANCE HIGH
StatisticianS Busy EvaIuating
1891 Cars and Weighing
Advances.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
DETROIT, April 18.-The statis-
ticians have been busy evaluating the
motor cars of 1881 and weighing the
advances that have been made. This
year the average cost Of a flve-paSsen-
ger sedan has been figured out to be
81, 788, as against 81 ,953 for last year.
The reduction is credited to lower
cost of materials, improved production
methods and decrease in profit margins.
1t extends over price spread rang
ing from $475 to $4,000. covering all
chassis models of all makers now rep
resented in the 1891 lineup.
At the same time, as representing
increased performance, the car models
utilizing greater than 10 horsepower
rose from 68 to rs per cent last year.
The chassis models rating between so
and 70 horsepower decreased per cent,
while those in which from IS to so
horsepower is developed remained vir-
tually stationary.
Economy in Operation.
From the standpoint of economy in
operation, it is now calculated that the
average motorist drives IL 900 miles
year at a cost of 6.43 cents per mile.
On the basis of every dollar invested,
it Is estimated that 20 cents goes for
gasoline, cents for oil, ~ cents for
maintenance, % cents for depreciation,
10 cents for tires, Z cents for garage
rent, cents for insurance, 2 cents for
license fees and 6 cents for interest.
The South American Market.
Through the recent British Empire
exhibition held at BuenoS Aires, the
English automobile manufacturers have
been endeavoring to secure a foothold
in the LAtin-American countries. To
that end, 1t was arranged that the
Prince Of Wales should visit the show,
and thereby build up sentiment favor
able to British products generally, and
particularly with regard to motor cars.
According to a recent calculation
made by the export division Of the
Hudson Motor Car Co. better than 81
per cent Of the cars sold in Argentina,
which Is said to be the best export mar
ket In the Southern Hemisphere, are
of American manufacture.
In the remainder Of Latin America
the United States sells an equal or even
higher percentage.
America, the Hudson survey points
out has pioneered motor sales in this
market through the merchandising fore
sight Of it's great automobile compa MES.
The American magnateS realized before
hand that the South American republics
ar geographically similar to the United
States and that where like conditions
prevailed with progressive people ready
to spend money automobiles could be
sold.
Money and Men Sent.
The American makers sent money
and men to South America even before
suitable roads were built for motor car
= tY1
but they persevered. AS a result the
automobile in South America outgrew
the novelty stage. DealershipS grew
into real distribution and the business
thrived. The demand increased to
such an extent that the Americans de-
cided to establish branch plants for on
the-spot assembly and manufacture.
While this was going on none of the
European producers were able to at
tempt to locate plants below the equa-
tor. Although they are in position to
enter the market already created the
belief here is that the American posi-
ton never can be threatened until for
eign-made cars are changed in both de-
sign and price. Few British or French
makes are powered to meet the require
ments of vast and sparsely populated
countries like Argentina and Brazil.
Appeal to NatIOnaIIsm.
For the same reason Australia, q
British colony, takes 80 per cent of its
automobiles from American sources.
While England now Is trying to es-
tablish distribution for several of its
popular makes in the Argentine it is
pointed out that the cars are being Of
fered TO the South Americans on q
nationalistic appeal based on inter-
change Of products, rather than on the
merits of the cars and their application
to the countries they are expected to
serve.
Copyright, 1891, by North American News
paper Alliance)