An analysis of vehicle sales and gas prices by Experian Automotive has found that while higher gas prices may create an immediate demand for small cars, this demand is not sustained, as many might think. Measuring vehicle sales against the erratic fluctuations in gas prices in 2008 and early 2009, Experian Automotive's research showed that as fast as market share for vehicles in the Small Car - Economy class escalated, it normalized just as quickly - even as gas prices remained 25 percent higher than at the beginning of the year.

In January 2008, gas prices averaged $3 per gallon across the country and Small Car - Economy class market share was 10 percent, according to Experian Automotive's findings. Small Car - Economy class market share peaked in May 2008 at 17 percent with gas prices at $3.70 per gallon. However, when gas prices peaked at $4.09 per gallon in August, Small Car - Economy class market share already was starting to slip. In September, when gas prices fell back slightly to $3.70 per gallon, Small Car - Economy class market share had already returned to 10 percent.

"Conventional wisdom would suggest small car market share would rise and fall at a similar rate to the price of gas, but that's not what our data shows," said Scott Waldron, president of Experian Automotive. "For auto manufacturers and other businesses looking to gas prices to help anticipate consumer demand, our research has shown this to be only part of the equation."

Jeff Anderson, head of Consulting and Analytics for Experian Automotive, cautioned automotive manufacturers from reading too much into last summer's rapid spike in small car demand.

"Everyone reported on the rapid escalation of small-car demand, but the rapid descent of small car market share went somewhat unnoticed," Anderson said. "Anyone who predicts a long-term shift in consumer car-buying sentiment based solely on last summer's knee-jerk reaction to gas price increases could be in for a surprise."

According to Experian Automotive's research, the Mid Range Car segment appeared to be the most resilient to gas price increases, with its market share reaching 26 percent in May 2008, when gas prices rose to $3.76 per gallon. The Mid Range Car segment then maintained a steady average of market share, holding 24 percent of the market in March 2009, as gas prices dipped below $2 per gallon. The market stability of the Mid Range Car segment was carried primarily by significant gains by the Honda Accord and Honda Civic, at 3.8 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively, in March 2009, which offset losses in other brands.

In other findings:

- Certain models showed strong resistance to gas price fluctuations, even if their vehicle class did not. While pickup trucks saw declines during mid-2008's gas price increases, Chevy Silverado and Ford F-150 pickup trucks still fared well. Chevy Silverado market share peaked at 5.4 percent in August, when gas was $3.79 per gallon. Ford F-150 market share peaked at 5 percent in November, when gas was $3.17 per gallon.

- Hybrid market share hit 3 percent in April, when gas was $3.44 per gallon, but fell below 2 percent in August, when gas reached $4.09 per gallon.

- SUV market share was at 12 percent in January 2008, when gas was $3 per gallon. It slipped to 7 percent market share in May, when gas was $3.70 per gallon, and did not return to 12 percent market share until gas fell below $2 per gallon in December 2008.