Consumer Market Study on the functioning of .pptVIP

* * Consumer Market Study on the functioning of the vehicle fuels market from a consumer perspective Marilena Di Stasi DG SANCO, B1 Consumer Markets ECCG 12/03/2014 Key points Rationale Follow up to negative findings of 6th Consumers Market Scoreboard: ranked 2nd lowest in the goods market; below average on almost all the MPI components: trust, comparability, problems and consumers expectations. Research questions Information to consumers Knowledge of the market Price information, transparency, and competition Price fuel comparison websites Potentially vulnerable groups Recommendations next steps Whats the best choice? Is it the right fuel? Are fuels compatible with my car? Research questions Are consumers able to make informed choices including: understanding information on labels at petrol stations; understanding differences between fuel types; suitability of different fuels for specific vehicles. How to standardise / harmonise labelling-at-the-pump practices (esp. those with biofuel content e.g. E10 and B7); Consumer perceptions of sustainability of biofuels compared to fossil fuels (including environmental / sustainability concerns affecting purchasing decisions); Availability of different fuel and retailer types; Retail prices. Methodology The study and data collection cover 27 Member States, Iceland and Norway. (was carried out before HR joined) All 29 countries covered through: Stakeholder organisations survey Consumer survey Price collection Mystery shopping exercises Study makes mainly use of data collected in the period 2012-2013. Information sources Consumers most often look for information on vehicle fuels at the pump. Consumers are most likely to look for information about vehicle and fuel compatibility at pumps and the vehicle’s operating manual. How easy is it to find clear information about… Example of very good labelling Ron Fuel denomination Coloured label on the nozzle Examples of confusing labelling Look at the differen