One of the major side effects of the power outrages in New York and New Jersey following hurricane Sandy is gas stations' difficulty getting fuel to customers. Shortages have led to seemingly endless gas lines, and in all of this, hybrids have shown their inherent value.
To help those effected by Hurricane Sandy cope with the natural disaster, automakers are stepping up in various ways. Known to us right now are contributions of aid or assistance by Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Fisker and George Kennedy
In theory, industry analysts say there's no reason that victims of Hurricane Sandy's devastating path should face gas shortages or long lines at the pump. In reality, many gas stations are shuttered. And at ones that are open, customers face lines that are hours and miles long.
Even before Hurricane Sandy made landfall in the US, there was no doubt the storm would wreak havoc for automakers (especially luxury brands) in the Northeast, but it looks like Fisker may have taken the biggest, most spectacular hit.
The effects of Hurricane Sandy are expected to ripple across the auto industry. In the short term, the superstorm is expected to hurt October sales figures, as dealerships across the Eastern Seaboard missed several days of sales. But in the months ahead, analysts expect the storm to boost an already-burgeoning industry as Sandy's victims replace damaged vehicles.
When we say the worst of Hurricane Sandy has passed, we're only talking about the weather phenomena; the depth of the storm's other impacts will take time to measure. Many of the estimated 4,751 car dealers in the states affected by Sandy spent the run-up to the storm moving their inventory to high ground if possible and bracing their dealerships for the storm. Many had already been through
On Monday, with Hurricane Sandy fast approaching, Wards Auto published a report speculating on how the storm might effect the auto industry. In a general sense, it was predicted that plants in or near the storm's path could shut down as a precautionary measure. With Sandy now having made landfall as a superstorm, it appears several production facilities were right in her path.
As Hurricane Sandy -- also known as the "Frankenstorm" -- closes in on the eastern coast of the United States, drivers should begin preparing for an increase in the price of gasoline.
