Autoblog – Japanese sales plunge as young people abandon cars

Wed, Dec 31, 2008

News


(And, “No” it doesn’t have anything to do with how kooky their car designs are becoming.)

Jeremy from Autoblog finds this report from the Detroit News, that basically says auto dealers in Japan are in for a rough 2009.  They are predicting a 30 year low for auto sales this year because more of the youth are using public transportation and spending their hard earned dough on gadgets.

Unfortunately for Americans, with our wide open expanses, don’t have a lot of public transportation options in most of our cities and public officials are slow to push anything more than buses.  What do you think will be the choice for young Americans looking for transportation in these recessional times?  Bikes?  Buses?  Used cars?  Smaller, less expensive cars?  Motorbikes (motorcycles, scooters)?

8 Responses to “Autoblog – Japanese sales plunge as young people abandon cars”

  1. Orin Says:

    It won’t matter. Japan has the highest percentage of population over 65 and the lowest birth rate of any nation on Earth. One hundred years from now, Japan will be inhabited almost entirely by robots. They don’t need vehicles…

    __Orin
    Scootin’ Old-skool

    Reply

  2. Aki Says:

    Yes car sales had -30% “with out 660cc car”, 660cc class had down 0.7% from last years same month,
    Many new car buyer choose 660cc from last summer high price fuel,
    Some big city had spaghetti subway and train net, But I live local small city 100km north from Tokyo,
    Car is “Must” item for transport to supermarket, 660cc car is enough for these purpose,

    Reply

  3. Steve Says:

    Hey Orin! But… Robots on scooters is SOOOOO awesome!

    Akisan! What is the most popular 660cc car in Japan? Does it get good fuel economy?

    Reply

  4. Steve Says:

    Aki! Thanks again! Great videos. Daihatsu has the best commercials!

    That last car was really drifting! It’s also just 660cc? That would be like a Suzuki Burgman engine dropped into a car.

    I really like those tiny vans. Arigato!

    Reply

  5. Steve Says:

    Oh and ZZ Top doing a commercial for Honda? Nice. It’s funny to hear them pronounce it “Zed” when we normally hear it as “Zee” in America.

    Reply

  6. aki Says:

    No it’s not burgman or GSX-r 600 engine,
    All Suzuki 660cc car had 3 cylinders DOHC engine,Some model had Turbo charger,

    Small drifting car was Suzuki Caputino,
    So about 10 years ago some maker sold 660cc two seater sports,

    Honda Beat
    http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=C7XTholPJ2g

    If you like BOX Van…
    http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=tQfa085K8Fk

    http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=nWK_PjDACWI

    And my business car is this one,
    http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=crhgGBwrOAk

    One more 660cc story,
    1993 Subaru vivio(660cc) in Safari
    rally,
    http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=XK000pK2mKE

    Reply

  7. Steve Says:

    The Suzuki Box Van is kind of cool, but the Mitsubishi i is fantastic! I would own one. I know we’ve got them in US laboratories (SoCal Edison) as they try to convert them to electric, but that means we won’t seem them until 2012.

    The EVERY has a funny commercial… comparing a family to a box lunch? :D

    Oh, and that Vivio was tearing that road up! Pretty impressive for 660cc!

    Reply

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