Are the Automakers right when they say gas prices don’t affect buying decisions?

In almost every article you read these days auto makers say that their research shows people don't base their buying decisions based on the price of gas.

Are they right?

One new source says no.

Highlights from the article:

Nearly 50% of Car Buyers Say Gas Prices Are Affecting Purchase Decision

The percentage of car buyers changing their mind about their next new car purchase has increased 10 points from nearly 40% to nearly 50% in the last 30 days, according to AutoVIBES, a monthly automotive study conducted by Harris Interactive® and Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research. A fifth (22%) of car buyers said they had already changed their mind about what their next vehicle purchase would be, and 26% said they are strongly considering vehicles they previously had not. The study also reveals that interest in hybrid vehicles doubled from 4% to 8% over the last month. The survey was first fielded in April, when the national average cost per gallon for gas was $1.83, and then repeated in May to track and trend changes in vehicle purchase intentions as the average cost per gallon increased 20 cents to $2.03.

Read the full article here: