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 ...
They buy used cars. duh.
No job, no money, no car buying.
Those who don't want personal mobility ---- ????? Does not compute.
Twelve years of public indoctrination, uh, I mean schooling, will do that!
No job. No money.
Anoreth has a car, but she’s not married and lives in base housing. It’s a sensible but reasonably sporty black Neon, from the same used-car lot where we bought “The Grape,” the purple Tracer she learned to drive in. The Grape is on its third teen driver, and holding up well.
Buying a new car, in most cases, is not the smartest choice ... although I guess someone has to, or there wouldn’t be used cars!
How can they afford them?
Clearly it’s time for the government to compel these youngsters to buy a Volt. I’m sure it is constitutional.
Its easy to not buy a car when you live with mummy and daddy.
Hey millenials, grow up and GTFU out of the nest!
Obama gas prices are driving young car buyers to cheap Korean imports.
How’s that Obama support working out, blue state Detroit Auto Workers?
Volt factory workers?
Hmm? Any second thoughts about maybe you’re on the wrong side yet?
2) Are they even advertising cars to the male audience anymore?
3) Maybe all the men are home, with their porn?
I bought my first car (1981 Toyota mini-pickup) from my parents. That wouldn’t be on anyone’s statistics!
No thanks to “Cash For Suckers”, the price of Used Cars skyrocketed.
There was no cash involved, just a chit for a fraction of the cost of another vehicle. Who’s that dumb, anyway?
And we did notice the price of used cars going up, as well as the disappearance of many used-car dealers on the US Highway through our county.
1. My childhood memories (70’s and 80’s) of my parents with their POS American cars that no matter what, never seemed to run right and were always in the shop. I remember my Mom's Pinto in particular - what utter garbage that was. The American Trabant.
2. I will not support the UAW. Sorry Ford, that includes you too. Even though you do produce some nice vehicles.
The government’s cash for klunkers program destroyed many of what would be “affordable” starter cars. We all had beaters when we were young. We bought better used when we could afford it and then finally new. Uncle Obie plugged the pipeline of cheap starter cars for young folks.
No money?
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