Where the World's Unsold Cars Go To Die

Zero Hedge ^ | 5/16/2014 | Tyler Durden

[P.O.E.]

The unemployed don’t need cars to get to jobs they don’t have.

[Oldexpat]

Walk away and maybe they will call you...we have been shopping for a couple months and will just wait until we can get a deal.

[FatherofFive]

They are all imported from Europe, they are all then parked up and they are all then left to rot.

I don't believe this. I understand (somewhat) the Chinese 'ghost' cities, but why import something for which there is no market?

[central_va]

If they made cars with more variety then they might sell more. I mean THEY ALL LOOK ALIKE. They have zero personality egg shaped neutermobiles. Not one company offers a family cart in rear wheel drive, not one. I have a Toyota Camry V6 manual with 150K on it, I plan on running it to 300K. No new car for me.

[sheana]

Years ago I found the same. The answer....I quit buying new cars. We buy one year or less old luxury cars with very few miles on them and get them for really good prices. In 2007 we bought a 2006 Jag S Type for almost half price like that. Last year we bought a Mercedes SUV with 8000 miles on it for less than 3/4 the price.

[cripplecreek]

http://www.demotix.com/news/1437486/spains-modern-day-ghost-towns#media-1436250

http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/europe/the-ghost-towns-that-haunt-spain

I first noticed them on an episode of TOP gear last year when they were driving around in the empty cities.

[Lorianne]

“perpetual growth” theory in action

What a misallocation of resources.

[Kirkwood]

Yes. Where exactly does this idiot think the new car inventory is supposed to be stored? In a shoebox under a bed?

[Safetgiver]

Great business model. Build something nobody wants or can afford.

[jjotto]

It’s BS. World production of new cars is something like 85 million. World population is around 7 billion. That’s something like one new vehicle for every 80 people. Not hard to believe since a huge percent of those vehicles are used for business, not just commuting or touring.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

THEY ALL LOOK ALIKE. They have zero personality egg shaped neutermobiles.

I didn't see anything there I would own, unless they were free. Regarding the "new" pricetag, sales tax and excise tax...you would have to be a rich moron to buy one.

Not one company offers a family cart in rear wheel drive, not one.

That's because it's obsolete, Model T technology.

The only time RWD makes sense is in combination with FWD to make 4WD or AWD.

You can still buy a RWD SUV (aka: a station wagon)

[central_va]

Rear wheel drive cars are superior in every way. Handle balance maintenance etc. Front wheel drive sucks. How many formula 1 cars are front wheel drive? Ask any race car driver about front wheel drive. LOL.

[Cvengr]

In the world of Just-In-Time-Inventory, and the financial requirements for car dealer franchises tied to auto manufacturing, I would think there would be tremendous financial impact and markers to verify the story.

Of course in the world of Photoshop, more astounding spectacles have been observed.

[deport]

Yep, if you go by the major ports in the US you’ll find these type lots. Check out
the major auto auctions and you find hundreds or so vehicles passing thru each
week. I have trouble believing that manufactures are stock piling vehicles just to keep
production going. They are in the business of selling vehicles to make a profit.
No sales no money coming in.

[Yardstick]

This is nearly as scary as the rainbow I saw in my lawn sprinkler the other day.

[cripplecreek]

I’m with you. I’ll take RWD over FWD every single time.

[Flag_This]

"Above is just a few of the thousands upon thousands of unsold cars at Sheerness, United Kingdom. Please do see this on Google Maps....type in Sheerness, United Kingdom."

So I did. There are many cars there... right next to a port facility. Google Earth has a history feature which allows one to view older satellite imagery (if it exists) and guess what? There have been many cars at that location going back to 1990. They are obviously importing or exporting cars from that location, but they clearly aren't just storing them there "to die."

[central_va]

FWD scam was a big hoax foisted on an uneducated public. It makes MANUFACTURING easier but creates maintenance problems, limits hp to under 250 and causes massive under steer which makes the suspension system way more expensive complicated and wears out much faster. The front tires and struts DO ALL THE WORK.

[JimRed]

Have they never heard that if something doesn’t sell at the requested price, you adjust the price until it DOES sell?

Anything sells if the price is right.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Exactly. Stunning that sentiment humans would fall for this.

Where exactly does this idiot think the new car inventory is supposed to be stored? In a shoebox under a bed?

I'm sure there is a Gubmint Motors lot just like that, where 6000 unsold Chevy Volts are parked...all with dead batteries.