The Economics of Automotive Weight Reduction

By reducing the weight of an automobile, monetary savings accrue to both the automakers and the American consumer. The consumer receives a benefit in reduced initial purchase price, reduced freight charges, increased gas mileage, and reduced tire wear. Assuming that a car will last for six years and will travel 18,000 miles per year, it can be conservatively calculated that a reduction of 1 lb in the weight of the vehicle will save the consumer $0.76 over the lifetime of the car. By including inflationary effects, it can be calculated that the consumer would save $0.79 over the lifetime of the car, or $0.13 each year.