AIR-CONDITIONING BOOM

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30958, 14 January 1966, Page 7

AIR-CONDITIONING BOOM

A TORE than two million Americans will have air conditioning installed in their cars this year, at an estimated cost of 700 million dollars, Reuters reports. This is part of a general trend towards incorporating more "extras” in cars, including such gadgets as pushbutton aerials, stereophonic radios, six-way adjustable seats, back-seat television, and tilt steering wheels to give easier access to the driving seat.

The market for car-bome air conditioners was once largely confined to the “sunshine” states of America’s south-west, California, Arizona and Texas, and Florida. Now, however, the trend is general and the market is booming. During 1955, about 176,000 cars in the United States had air conditioning installed. By last year, when total United States car production reached nearly eight million vehicles, the figure had in-

creased more than 10-fold, to 1,813,000.

1,600,000 units are expected to be factory-installed this year. More than 400,000 additional units will be installed by local dealers. The advantage of the latter is that, since they are not built-in, they can be removed and transferred to another car. On the other hand, the labour costs involved in the transfer may amount to as much as £35 to £56.

As might be expected, the largest proportion of air-con-ditioned cars is among the more expensive models. Nearly 66 per cent of this year’s Cadillac convertibles have airconditioners. But even for the less expensive Chevrolets, the figure is 19 per cent, compared with 14 per cent during the 1964 model year, and only three per cent in 1960.

A vice-president of one major car firm has the theory that the trend really started when women, whether as drivers or passengers, discovered that air-conditioning kept them looking neater, fresher and better-groomed.