Generation Y Giving Cars a Pass

[Dappleganger]

Selling cars to young adults under 30 is proving to be a real challenge for automakers. Unlike their elders, Generation Yers own fewer cars and don’t drive much. They’re likely to see autos as a source of pollution, not as a sex or status symbol.

Motorists aged 21 to 30 now account for 14% of miles driven, down from 21% in 1995.

They’re more apt to ride mass transit to work and use car sharing services -- pioneered by Zipcar -- for longer trips. And car sharing choices are expanding, with car rental firms moving into the market, making it convenient for young folks to rent with hourly rates and easy insurance. Connect by Hertz, for example, is rolling out its car sharing services in the New York metropolitan area, with plans to eventually expand them to around 40 college campuses nationwide.

The trend won’t cause car sales to tank, of course, but the generational shift doesn’t bode well for manufacturers and auto dealers, which for decades have counted on wooing young new drivers to their brands in hopes of cementing lifetime customer relationships.

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1523/generation-y-giving-cars-a-pass/

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[annabanana]

1. Generation Y CAN'T FIND WORK!

How the hell can they be expected to buy cars?

[Dappleganger]

2. Neither can Gen Y's parents, LOL!

:shrug:

[left coaster]

6. True that! ..but I still have my 20+ year old Corolla.. from when I WAS employed! :) nt

[left coaster]

5. EXACTLY! Yet these idiots will spin it as a 'choice'... sheesh.. nt

[Uben]

3. Got to have a job to buy a car......

....and therein lies the problem!

[Uben]

4. delete

nt

[raccoon]

7. Gee, does it ever occur to the writer that these people don't have the do-re-mi?

Maybe a McJob, or no job at all?