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To: JudyinCanada
Electric cars now that gas in plentiful and getting less expensive.

It's not just about electric cars. Though that's a major reason.

The other major reason is self-driving vehicles.

I've been saying it for years that, automakers would be putting themselves out of business, and now, they'e facing the reality.

I also said that, with self-driving vehicles, there would be no need for anyone to own a car. If car ownership dwindles or disappears completely, then, there would be a huge need for vehicle fleets which could be summoned at the touch of a button or by voice request. That's about to become fact, SOON!. So, with the automakers not being needed for sales of vehicles, thereby putting all car dealerships out of business, and only fleet owners would be buying them for sales of rides. But, sales to fleet operators would still leave the automakers close to dying, so, their only hope would be to become the fleet operators themselves. Hence, no auto dealers, and no independent fleet operators. The automakers would be building their own fleets of vehicles. Those vehicles would then become what the consumer would use to get around

The consumers would actually end up ahead, with no need to own and maintain and fuel up their vehicles. That could, potentially, save consumers some $10,000 per year.

And then, roads wouldn't need to be serviced as often as they are now, police/sheriff's department wouldn't need to be trained to chase violators, since there wouldn't be any. Parking lots would disappear. No need to build garages for homes or for shopping centers. No need for parking garages at airports.

Fuel costs would dramatically dive. No repair shops. No parking meters. No police radar traps. No red-light cameras. No gasoline stations.

20-30 million jobs lost in the U.S. alone; hundreds of millions lost around the world. The oil industry would collapse, just because of the lower fuel demands of those ICE cars still on the road; ICE cars will still be built and sold to fleet operators.

Most union jobs would disappear, starting with all of those at automakers.

Eventually, even traffic lights would disappear, to be replaced by 'smart' signals to the self-driving vehicles.

A lot more benefits to come, but also a lot of detrimental repercussions.

Hey, liberals. Welcome to the world you forced on us. Nothing is without consequences.
16 posted on 02/02/2019 8:27:46 PM PST by adorno
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To: adorno
"I also said that, with self-driving vehicles, there would be no need for anyone to own a car. If car ownership dwindles or disappears completely, then, there would be a huge need for vehicle fleets which could be summoned at the touch of a button or by voice request. That's about to become fact, SOON!.

"SOON", really? You actually negate your thesis with "...there would be a huge need for vehicle fleets which could be summoned...". City geography would preclude such large fleets of self-driving buses/transit vehicles into the suburbs. Don't know where you live, but it would be impossible when dealing with the different time frames of individuals needing door-to-door pick up and delivery home after work. Yes, Uber/Lyft already do that. What about simple errands and trips for groceries and shopping and doctor visits, etc.?

What about emergencies? Would you count on self-driving ambulances or a gigantor fleet service when counting the minutes of survival.

Individuals will need individual transportation until a Star Trek transporter is invented, which is beyond physics. I think you've watched the movie Minority Report too often.

21 posted on 02/02/2019 11:06:15 PM PST by A Navy Vet (I'm not Islamophobic - I'm Islamonauseous. Plus LGBTQxyz nauseous.)
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