Tesla Motors’ shares have dropped 14 percent in seven trading days on growing concern that the cheapest gasoline in more than four years will dampen consumer enthusiasm for the company’s luxury electric cars.

Tesla fell 4 percent to $214.36 at the close Monday, the seventh straight day the shares traded down, and this afternoon it’s hovering slightly up in the $215 level. The shares gained 42 percent this year through Monday.

Consumers paying less at the pump may have diminished the desirability for vehicles that run on an electric charge and can cost as much as $100,000. Gasoline prices in the U.S. have fallen for 68 days to an average of $2.67 per gallon, according to AAA.

Tesla does not break down its sales figures by country, however some estimates suggest Tesla’s U.S. sales may be falling this year as the company began exporting its Model S luxury sedan to foreign markets. The company said it expects next year to sell 50,000 of its Model S, named last week as top luxury car in owner satisfaction in the Consumer Reports annual buyers survey.

SEE ALSO: Tesla Stock Hits New High Despite Dealer Fight In Georgia

While many analysts suspect the drop in share price for Tesla is related to the current low price at the pumps, there remains plenty of optimism for the stock long-term.

“We think the weakness provides a buying opportunity,” said Ben Kallo, an analyst with Robert W. Baird Co. Tesla “will continue to see strong demand which is largely driven by performance, quality, and brand”

The current trend on the stock market has not changed the focus many automakers have put on continuing to improve fuel economy and add both hybrids and electric vehicles to their product line up.

When Ford rolled the first aluminum F-Series off the line in Dearborn, MI, CEO Mark Fields was repeatedly asked if it was critical for the automaker to offer a dramatically more fuel-efficient pickup.

“We think the trend is clear,” Fields said. “Over time, we believe gas prices around the world will continue moving higher. When that happens, we will have one of the most fuel-efficient trucks on the market.”

Kallo said buyers of electric vehicles are attracted by the ability to ignore the ups and downs of gas prices.

“Although the recent decline in oil prices has caused concern about EV demand, we believe EV purchasers are focused on the long-term benefit of not being exposed to oil price fluctuations,” he said. “We believe demand for Tesla’s vehicles will remain strong.”

Top Gear magazine has chosen the BMW i8 as its global Car of the Year 2014.

The plug-in hybrid performance vehicle beat off some stiff competition from a host of other premium and luxury manufacturers to win the overall award, stated the magazine’s management.

The editorial team of Top Gear commended the BMW i8 for its breadth of abilities. Its 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine combined with an electric motor provide a powertrain integrated in a car that offers driver enjoyment in a package delivering CO2 emissions rated at less than 49g/km and a 135 imperial mpg combined cycle figure.

“The BMW is a milestone in the annals of automotive history and a glorious statement for an exciting and positive future,” said Charlie Turner, Editor in Chief at Top Gear magazine. “The i8 delivers – and then some. It’s the kind of car we should celebrate, a beautiful vision of the future, delivered now. It is a resounding success for the BMW i8 and the whole team were unanimous in naming the BMW i8 as Top Gear magazine’s Car of the Year.”

SEE ALSO: BMW i8 eAxle Developed By GKN

Top Gear magazine describes itself as one of the most influential global motoring and lifestyle magazines and, in addition to the original UK publication, has 31 international editions. There is also a very popular television show linked to it.

“We always knew the BMW i8 was going to be a game changing vehicle and the strength of orders shows just how desirable this car is for customers,” said Dr Ian Robertson, BMW AG Management Board member for Sales and Marketing BMW. “Prestigious awards such as this one from Top Gear magazine prove that it has global recognition within the industry too. In 2015, both the i3 and the i8 will play their part in ensuring we build on our market leading position as the world’s best-selling and most innovative premium car manufacturer.”

Volvo’s umbrella name for all of the company’s auto braking functions will be City Safety.

This new naming nomenclature starts with the all-new Volvo XC90.

The continuously enhanced collision-avoidance and mitigation technologies, which are standard in the XC90, include yet another Volvo world first: automatic braking if the driver turns in front of an oncoming vehicle.

“City Safety is one of the most advanced standard crash prevention offers you can find in a modern car. It addresses vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in certain situations, day and night,” said Prof. Lotta Jakobsson, Senior Technical Specialist Safety at Volvo Cars Safety Centre.

Volvo Cars stated as the leader in automotive safety, it has been pioneering auto brake technologies since the first-generation standard brake support was introduced in 2006. Among the technologies is the first-generation City Safety, which was introduced as a low-speed auto brake solution in 2008.

SEE ALSO: 2016 Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid Revealed In LA – Video

Now, per Volvo ,City Safety takes on an extended, all-new role as the umbrella name for all Volvo Cars’ auto brake functions. The system is active at all speeds over 4 km/h (2.5 mph).

The auto brake at intersections is a world first, said Volvo, that deals with a situation that is a common scenario at busy city crossings as well as highway crossings, where the speed limits are higher.

“Our studies of accident data from this accident type show that an important number of these crashes could have been avoided or mitigated if the turning vehicle had been equipped with auto brake. The solution is yet another example of how our new technologies target substantial real-life traffic problems. This strategy moves us closer and closer to our ambition that by 2020 no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo,” said Lotta Jakobsson.

The purpose of the advanced crash avoidance system is to assist the driver through an intuitive warning strategy and a brake support system, explained Volvo. If a collision is imminent, the system will provide automatic braking when the driver fails to respond to the imminent threat. The focus is on avoiding the collision entirely or reducing the car’s speed as much as possible prior to the impact.

As listed by Volvo, City Safety addresses:

• Oncoming vehicles, including motorcycles and cycles, when the driver turns left (or right in left-hand traffic). City Safety detects a potential crash and brakes automatically in order to avoid a collision or mitigate the consequences of a crash.

• Vehicles, including motorcycles, travelling in the same direction. City Safety is able to avoid a collision if the relative speed difference between the two vehicles is up to 50 km/h (31 mph). At higher speeds, the automatic braking helps to reduce the consequences of the collision.

• Cyclists crossing the path of the car or suddenly swerving out in front it. Depending on the situation, City Safety is able to avoid a collision if the relative speed difference is up to 45 km/h (28 mph). At higher speeds, the automatic braking can mitigate the consequences of the collision.

• Pedestrians walking out in front of the car. City Safety is able to avoid a collision at speeds up to 45 km/h (28 mph). At higher speeds, the automatic braking can help mitigate the consequences of the collision.

Volvo added City Safety is based on a combined camera and radar unit integrated at the top of the windscreen, in front of the interior rear-view mirror. The latest technology upgrade is said to be comprised of a smarter and faster high-sensitive, megapixel image camera combined with advanced exposure control. This is said to make the detection and auto brake technology work effectively also when driving in darkness.

The radar’s task is to detect objects in front of the car and to determine their position and movement, and the distance to them, continued Volvo. The camera identifies what type of object it is. The technology continuously monitors the object – and a central control unit uses the camera and radar data to evaluate the risk of a collision and to initiate the most efficient counteraction.

In an emergency situation, the driver receives an audible alert combined with a haptic warning in the shape of a short braking pulse and a light flashing on the lower part of the windscreen. If the driver reacts to the warning and starts braking, the system is programmed to automatically ‘fill up’ with more braking power, but only if necessary. If the driver does not react at all, the auto brake is activated. Volvo said full braking power is applied approximately 1.0 seconds before impact.

“Statistics show that about 90 percent of all accidents are caused by distracted drivers,” said Lotta Jakobsson. “Since City Safety remains alert even if the driver is distracted or tired, it helps to bring collision figures down considerably. We have, for instance, seen a documented reduction in frontal collisions in low-speed car-following situations by over 20 percent. Our aim is of course to continuously extend the City Safety auto brake technologies to cover more objects and traffic situations.”