Learn about demographics from the 2010 U.S. Census and how they will affect marketing auto products.

AdvertisingAge recently ran an interesting article examining how the growing U.S. Hispanic population will become a major force in consumer spending over the next decade and beyond.

The article included some interesting figures pulled from the 2010 U.S. Census, which included:

• Hispanic population increased by 42 percent from previous census in 2000
• 91 percent of Hispanic children were born in the U.S.
• More than 1 in 3 Hispanics in the U.S. are children under 18; compared to non-Hispanic Americans (1 in 4)
• The Hispanic population is on average more than 10 years younger than the average for non-Hispanics
• Average Hispanic family has 4.0 members, compared to 2.9 for average white, non-Hispanic Family

So what does this all mean for the auto industry?

With the baby boomer generation saving more money as they near retirement, Hispanic Americans will likely fill the growing spending void.

AdvertisingAge described how Hispanic Americans closely exemplify the values of 1950s America when young, hard-working families wanted a slice of the American Dream: A good job … a house with a yard for the kids … and of course a brand new car.

Citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Hispanic Americans are more likely to:

• Eat family meals at home
• Spend less on alcohol
• Be community oriented
• Have high aspirations for their children

The auto industry is going to need to start targeting this demographic if they want to grow their sales in the next decade. And it may not be as hard as they think because they already have a good blueprint.

All they’ll have to do is look back to the 1950s when family values reigned supreme.