Posted on 03/27/2012 7:47:55 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
Kids these days. They don't get married. They don't buy homes. And, much to the dismay of the world's auto makers, they apparently don't feel a deep and abiding urge to own a car.
This week, the New York Times pulled back the curtain on General Motors' recent, slightly bewildered efforts to connect with the Millennials -- that giant generational cohort born in the 1980s and 1990s whose growing consumer power is reshaping the way corporate America markets its wares. Unfortunately for car companies, today's teens and twenty-somethings don't seem all that interested in buying a set of wheels. They're not even particularly keen on driving.
The Times notes that less than half of potential drivers age 19 or younger had a license in 2008, down from nearly two-thirds in 1998. The fraction of 20-to-24-year-olds with a license has also dropped. And according to CNW research, adults between the ages of 21 and 34 buy just 27 percent of all new vehicles sold in America, a far cry from the peak of 38 percent in 1985.
At a major conference last year, Toyota USA President Jim Lentz offered up a fairly doleful summary of the industry's challenge.
"We have to face the growing reality that today young people don't seem to be as interested in cars as previous generations," Lentz said. "Many young people care more about buying the latest smart phone or gaming console than getting their driver's license." The billion-dollar question for automakers is whether this shift is truly permanent, the result of a baked-in attitude shift among Millennials that will last well into adulthood, or the product of an economy that's been particularly brutal on the young.
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
Why not just pick a side?
I always hear this disinformation. “there’s no difference”. Why can’t we all get along?
My last two American cars were made here, in American ... FACTORIES.
Not places they bolt together prefab imported tinker toys.
Factories. Both have been supurb. Choose to believe that or not, but American cars are very good now. And rock solid.
And frankly, there’s nothing quite like driving where everyone is in an import, most of which have an American flag on the back to (ineffectively) compensate for EXACTLY THAT - and proudly, confidently drive: the real thing.
Buy American.
Nailed it. We are not really free any more, we only fool ourselves now. There are so many laws now that you cannot move without breaching some law. We are shackled and it was all sold as safety with the promise of the government to protect us. The government has become a tyrant that has enslaved us.
Absolutely. Plus, taking out the clunkers removed spare parts from circulation. And then the government stiffed some dealers!
Spot on analysis!
“my Mom’s Pinto”
While wearing a much younger man’s clothes I was crammed into the back of one of those things with a couple other suckers, and we were on an icy I-70.
We were bumped from behind, and I almost kicked that big rear window out. But we didn’t burst into flames that day. Remember that minor defect?
The Volt? Who knows. Maybe you’re fried and shocked to death.
“I’m glad to have lived at the apex of America. It won’t be pretty from here on out.”
What a fantastic (and sadly accurate) post.
Finally, recovery from the Baby Boomer paradigm! Down with consumerism and its sister, socialism! Commence with the Great Correction, and on to freedom again!
Perot was right.
I live in a college town and you wouldn’t believe the new mustangs, camaros and challengers I see on a daily basis. I spotted a brand new Nissan GT-R last week.
“I understand that some or even many of the “rank and file” folks aren’t leftists, but the dickwads they vote in to lead their union are. “
Cool, you get it. There are many people on this site that think we should buy Fords (or GM or Chrysler) because “the fellas” that build the cars are just like us.
But they are not - we did not vote for a Communist to lead us, they have voted, time and time again, for Communists to lead their unions. And it’s nothing new. It was so bad during World War 2 that FDR had to cut a deal with the mob, just to get dock workers to do their job.
Unions need to be deleted and erased from our memories. They are, by far, the biggest NIGHTMARE this country has ever seen.
Not buying American cars won’t change any vote to Republican.
NOT ONE.
Ever. Anywhere.
That’s not a plan.
Not really. Based on a search of “Ford Pinto Exploding” I was ~4 or 5 y/o. But like I said, it was the American Trabant - a POS deathtrap.
One good memory of the Pinto: A drive-in double feature of “The Island of Dr. Moreau” and “Star Wars”.
This showcases the insanity of the implacable liberals.
People in America have too many cars. We’re evil.
Now people in America aren’t buying cars. They’re evil.
Bipolar, hypocritical, out of their minds, liberals.
The answer: Obama’s economy is why they aren’t buying cars. Thank Cash for Clunkers getting rid of a lot of the cars young people and lesser well off, or frugal people buy.
“Buy American.”
I’ll join you when the UAW shows some sign of not being OWNED by the Democrats. Until then, I might as well hand just over a few thousand dollars to the Democrats instead of buying an American car - cheaper that way and the same result.
The only truly american made vehicles today are pickups with a 3/4 ton rating or higher. That means a ford f250 or greater, and a chevy c2500 or greater.
“Not buying American cars won’t change any vote to Republican.”
Of course it won’t. But I saw my (Republican) Congressman get thrown out of office from absolutely HORRIBLE union advertising - he never had a chance to fight back.
I simply will not subsidize the Democrats, but you’re welcome to spend your money as you wish.
That's interesting.... I noticed the same in the last year in MT.
(I'm interested in stocking up on 10 yr old SUVs of a common configuration to get me through the last 20 to 30 years of driving)
This has been the argument since Ross Perot warned us of the “Giant Sucking Sound”.
What we’ve seen since then, is that Perot was right.
Buy American.
“Cool, you get it.”
Thank you. I try.
Your post is exactly right! “The fellas” keep voting for enemies of out nation, period.
And unions DO need to be deleted and erased from our memories. All of them.
But now kids have their computers, cellphones, and twitter and facebook accounts and its just as easy to sit around in your parents basement and stay in contact with your friends than drive anywhere...
I remember there was a thread a while back saying they aren't interested in sex either so no need for the back seat...
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