• July 6, 2009

Market-research firm Synovate has a new study showing that six in ten people would choose to buy a green car over a "dream car," even if money was no object.

Synovate surveyed more than 13,500 people across 18 markets, including the U.S., about "green" versus "dream" cars, vehicle ownership, intent to buy in the next year and attitudes towards cars, traffic, public transport and their need-for-speed. The top answer across all 18 markets, if money was no object, was to buy a green car, with 37% of respondents saying this would be their preference. Thirty percent said they would buy their dream car and 22% claimed that "my dream car is a green car" which, per the firm, means 59% wanted to go green.

The nation most likely to simply elect "green car" was Germany, with 58% choosing the environment over their dream cars.

Overall, 15% of respondents across all 18 markets surveyed, including 9% in the U.S., say they will buy a new car in the next 12 months. The new car purchase intenders were topped by India at 38% and Egypt at 24%.--Karl Greenberg