Press Releases

Shell's Autopias study - description of methodology and analysis

15/04/2005

Shell believes practicing routine vehicle maintenance and choosing quality gasolines are important aspects of car care, and the company commissioned an independent study to better understand how vehicles are cared for and maintained in the United States

The Shell study evaluated the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the contiguous United States[1] to identify "America's Autopias" - where cars would most want to live if they had their way.

Criteria
Shell, working with an independent research organization, identified three primary areas that affect car care and maintenance – quality of fuel and motor oil, routine car care and maintenance practices, and road conditions/traffic congestion.  The research organization identified key drivers in each of the three areas affecting car care and maintenance, which provides an accurate indication of car care habits and resources available in each city. Each MSA then was scored and ranked in each area, as well as given an overall index  score, which is an equally weighted balance of the scores in each area. The final set of variables used for determining each metropolitan area’s car care index included:

Quality of Fuel & Motor Oil

• Percentage of gasoline sold by retailer based on consumer survey data, specifically taking into account those retailers that sell TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
  
• Percentage of high-mileage, semi-synthetic and full-synthetic motor oils sold compared with total motor oil sold in each MSA
  

Routine Car Care & Maintenance

• Number of maintenance facilities in the market per vehicle, including gasoline stations, car washes and oil change/quick lube facilities
  
• Number of maintenance receipts per vehicle from gasoline stations, car washes and oil change/quick lube facilities
  
• Purchases of routine car care services, including oil changes, new tires and tire rotation or balancing services, over a 12-month period
  
• Purchases of routine car care products, including motor oil products and oil filters, over a 12-month period

Road Conditions & Congestion

• Percentage of roads in disrepair in urban areas
  
• Public spending on roads in disrepair per mile and per vehicle
  
• Annual hours of traffic delay per vehicle
  
• Percentage of roads that are congested
  
• Duration of daily rush hours

The Shell study utilized data collected by the US Census Bureau, the Surface Transportation Policy Project/Federal Highways Administration, The NPD Group and the Texas Transportation Institute

BACKGROUND        

The study was conducted by Decision Analyst, Inc., a Texas-based independent research firm, for Shell Oil Products US.  Shell is dedicated to researching and developing high-quality fuels and lubricants, and recently introduced its most advanced fuel ever, Shell V-Power®.  Specially formulated to actively clean as you drive, Shell V-Power can clean up carbon deposits that minimum detergency gasolines leave behind. 

According to the automakers that developed the TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline standard, clean engines help vehicles achieve optimal performance as well as reduced emissions.  BMW, General Motors, Honda and Toyota are so concerned with declining gasoline quality that they recently introduced a new gasoline standard that surpasses minimum government standards for gasoline detergency additives.  All Shell gasolines meet the TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline standard. 

About Shell

Shell Oil Products US, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company, is a leader in the refining, transportation and marketing of fuels, and has a network of nearly 6,600 branded gasoline stations in the Western United States. Shell Oil Company is a 50 percent owner of Motiva Enterprises LLC, along with Saudi Refining, Inc., which refines and markets branded products through 9,400 stations in the Eastern and Southern United States. Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies (NYSE: RD/SC).

Click here for information on Shell V-Power® or to find a Shell station near you, please visit www.localshell.com.

Questions

Notes

1. As recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau. An MSA is defined as a geographic area that consists of a city with a population of 50,000 or more people, including suburban communities adjacent to the city.
   
2. An index is a numerical scale providing for the relative ranking of the MSAs according to their performance in the relevant category.  In this study, all raw model scores were rebased so the score for the top-performing MSA in any category is 100, with all other MSA scores being proportionately rescored.
   
3. TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is a new standard for gasoline that surpasses minimum government standards for gasoline detergency additives.  According to BMW, General Motors, Honda and Toyota, the automakers that developed the standard, TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline will help keep vehicle engines clean and reduce deposit-related problems, helping vehicles achieve optimal performance as well as reduced emissions.