1.2 billion cars on the road by 2015
January 18, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
With over 1 million new cars sold in Australia last year and record sales before that, the statistics show that on average, almost 50% of all Australian households have bought a new car in the last 3 years.
The U.S. market struggled for the most part of last year and it continues to suffer from the financial issue related to the declining stock market, but worldwide many countries have had similar success to Australia, setting all time new car sales records.
After all, it now seems that despite Al Gore’s vigilant attempts, not many are too concerned about the environment, the pollution and the fate of some cute polar bears.
A German research firm – R. L. Polk – has conducted a global survey which is estimating that by 2010, there will be one billion cars on the road. But it gets better as that number is set to increase 20% by 2015, equalling to 1.2 billion cars on the road worldwide.
This massive surge in new cars is partially the result of car companies expanding at a rapid rate into Eastern Europe, South-East Asia and South America.
Only recently we brought you news of India’s Tata Motors going for 1 million sales a year with the new Nano minicar – which just happens to be the cheapest car in the world.
The interesting bit about all these statistics is that perhaps in the not so distant future, American and European auto manufacturers will no longer be designing cars for the Western world.
Surely if Volkswagen wants to topple Toyota as the number 1 manufacturer, the German company needs to move into India and China faster than the rest.
So what do you think? Should we introduce 15-20 year laws to crush old cars (classics exempt of course)? Or perhaps governments worldwide can spend some money on smart public transport infrastructure, because if you thought traffic is bad now, wait till 2015!
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There is no way that the government could solve the public transport issues by 2015, let alone implement a “smart public transport” system. All they do is throw money at the problem, they need some good management instead.
Cars just need to become lighter and smaller. I’ve always wondered why cars need to be so heavy. With cars being lighter safety would improve as it wouldnt take as long to stop and handling would improve considerably, not to mention fuel economy. You’d accelerate faster too!
And besides, have you ever looked at how many passengers a car has when you drive to and from work in peak hour. Theres usually only driver.
Make cheap affordable light cars for people to drive to work. Keep the family and work car separate.
Kinetic makes a good point, as a motorcyclist I notice 99/100 cars have only the driver in them on my trips to and from work.
Perhaps if PT were improved or more of us were encouraged to car pool or ride to work (by cheaper reg on bikes/scooters) we’d have fewer transportation dramas.
Every family needs a car but do we all need to drive to work… currently yes, there’s little choice, but the option to choose should be made more convenient and accessible.
I like the points you guys raise.
When Brisbane city improves it’s public transportation system to an acceptable level then i would consider driving far less than i currently do.
As it stands i’d rather pay my way with a car as the current system is far from efficient…
Current councils and state goverments have a lot to answer for when it comes down to viable options for current road users to switch to public transport.
“Surely if Volkswagen wants to topple Toyota as the number 1 manufacturer, the German company needs to move into India and China faster than the rest.”
I think they are there, selling quite a few cars to Chinese people with taste.
What’s the reason for 25year old cars? Is it to replace them with modern more efficient cars. Fact – cars from the late 70’s early 80’s produce about 20 times more pollutants then a modern comparable car. Victoria has no emission testing for cars as far as I know which is outrageous. The minute the Government bring in some form of testing regime the better. Given the Global Warming debate and the Australian lack of performance with this respect (Won’t mention the Kyoto Treaty) it’s about time to cut pollution.
Amazing to think 50% of household have bought a new car presumably the other 50% have bought their trade-ins. What lies in store for future sales 50% per year can’t be maintained bearing in mind Aussie keep your cars longer than a typical Europhile.
Sorry babe ……….a little deep for me at this time!
Tomorrow maybe…….
Not the first time i’ve had a refusal either..snigger snigger.
Imagine every new car was fitted with a paint that goes on the roof that acts like a solar panel. HOW much energy we could muster up.
Al Gore – and all the credibility of a politician that goes with the office! Read Gardenthe book ‘Garden of Eden’ by ‘Ben Elton’ Although it was written many years ago, and predicted the ‘green’ movement, Al Gore IS the central character of that novel and he is just milking it for every dollar it is worth. And his opinion counts for nothing.
The fact is the ONLY way movement will be made on this issue is when someone can make money out of it – and so long as there is dino juice to be pulled out, no-one is making any moves to find alternatives in a hurry. I mean seriously, the Govt still needs to work out how to tax you for powering your car by Solar Energy or any other ‘alternative’ energy source. When they have that sorted alternative fuel sources will magically appear. Something similar to Sydney Water moving towards charging Sydney-siders for water you collect in your own Water Tank!
I’ve heard rumors of charging people with water tanks. What a load of ^&$%. I live too far out of town to be on mains water, I’m forced to collect my own in tanks.