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Auto manufacturers today are scratching their heads, trying to figure out why the millennial generation has little-to-no interest in owning a car. What car makers are failing to see is that this generation's interests and priorities have been redefined in the last two decades, pushing cars to the side while must-have personal technology products take up the fast lane.
It's no secret the percentage of new vehicles sold to 18- to 34-year-olds has significantly dropped over the past few years. Many argue this is the result of a weak economy, that the idea of making a large car investment and getting into more debt on top of college loans is too daunting for them. But that's not the "driving" factor, especially considering that owning a smartphone or other mobile device, with its monthly fees of network access, data plan, insurance, and app services, is almost comparable to the monthly payments required when leasing a Honda Civic.
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With recent studies showing a huge decline in auto sales among the millennial marketplace, it's no wonder auto manufacturers are in a mild state of panic, realizing they're missing out on a generation that wields $200 billion in purchasing power. Numbers don't lie, and over the last few years statistics have shown a significant drop in young people who own cars, as well as those with driver's licenses—and that decline continues among the youngest millennials, meaning this is not a trend that's going away anytime soon. From 2007 to 2011, the number of cars purchased by people aged 18 to 34, fell almost 30%, and according to a study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, only 44% of teens obtain a driver's license within the first year of becoming eligible and just half, 54% are licensed before turning 18. This is a major break with the past, considering how most teens of the two previous generations would race to the DMV for their license or permit on the day of their 16th birthday.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 14 2016, @06:29AM
The car for prior generations provided a sense of freedom, 'limitless opportunity', 'a temporary home', and most importantly: entertainment.
Nowadays all but the temporary home can be provided by your cell phone or internet access device, with at most a console or portable to cover the entertainment if your phone/internet device is not capable for your needs.
Furthermore car repair costs have only gone up in recent years, and while some cars will run for longer periods before needing work, most require a higher level of maintenance than previous generation vehicles. Especially anything using 0W20 oil (which comes out to a quart every 1000 miles or so, whereas many previous generations of cars would not significantly consume engine oil before the oil change time was reached. Gas mileage vs oil consumption should really have been a consideration in EPA testing, but it is not as long as the tailpipe emissions are clean. The result is probably more cars consuming oil, being ignored by their owners, then having their engines damaged due to insufficient lubrication, leading to increased emissions and increased future oil consumption due to the new looser tolerances and same thin oil.
Really though, with social networking most people have SOMEONE in their circle who they can mooch rides off of when they need it, so unless they are working their own job, can't get there by bus or bike, and can't work out a deal with someone else, they don't really need a car themselves, and not having it saves thousands of dollars a year and the stress of driving (which can be more than the multi-hour bus or bike commute in some counties/states.)
(Score: 3, Insightful) by janrinok on Wednesday September 14 2016, @06:48AM
I don't think that we have that problem in Europe but, if we have, I'm sure someone will let me know fairly quickly. From my point of view, oil levels rarely even need checking nowadays. If the in-car indicator says oil is good, then it is good. I have my oil replaced every annual service (which is itself not strictly necessary any more, but I am a traditionalist). However, I certainly wouldn't even consider buying a car that uses a quart of oil every 1000 miles or so. It must be throwing oil all over the place ...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 14 2016, @02:09PM
My car in highschool used\leaked\burned a quart a month. Oil was all the way down the bottom, and the acrid blue tendrils of smoke were a common sight coming from the top of the exhaust manifolds.
I made the mistake about changing the oil in it once, and it came out looking like I had just poured it in. I kicked myself for wasting 5 months of oil lol.
Totally worth it, spent 300 dollars on it, put maybe 500 into repairs over its two year life with me.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 14 2016, @03:27PM
You mentioned something key that is not usually acknowledged: many "car-free" people MOOCH off the car owners when they need one! Cost shifting at its finest.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday September 14 2016, @05:51PM
The wife and I said "enough is enough" to one of the moochers this past weekend. "I need you to come to Little Rock and pick me up!" That's a five hour round trip. When we pointed that out, he says, "I've got gas money for you!" The answer was, "Do you have $20/hour to pay for our time?" He says "No!" so we says "No!"
The wife is soft hearted though. She told him that she could buy him a Greyhound ticket to Texarkana, and she would pick him up there. He actually turned her down!!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 14 2016, @06:00PM
Yee-Haw!