utomotive marketing in US is set to witness dramatic changes in the next 18 months, including a big drop in ad spending from SUV brands. As hurricanes hit the U.S. Gulf Coast and send gas prices soaring, industry watchers anticipate hard times ahead for Detroit. Marketers are touting fuel efficiency and consumers are beginning to look with new interest at smaller cars and hybrid vehicles.

Even before Hurricane Katrina sent gas prices soaring, SUVs were hurting: sales of full-size SUVs fell 10.7 per cent and mid-size 1.7 per cent in the first eight months of 2005. While full-size pickup sales actually rose by 9.1 per cent during the same time to 1.75 million units.... more