The Earth Policy Institute, which I have never heard of, is having a press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 6, to report that in 2009, the 14 million cars scrapped exceeded the 10 million new cars sold, shrinking the U.S. fleet by 4 million--nearly 2% in just one year. The U.S. fleet, totaling 250 million in 2008, dropped to 246 million in 2009. Brown thinks this shrinkage will continue through 2020, according to Lester R. Brown, institute president.
Brown in a news advisory says there are several reasons for this decline. "One is market saturation. The United States now has 246 million registered motor vehicles and 209 million licensed drivers--nearly 5 vehicles for every 4 drivers.
Other reasons for the U.S. car fleet shrinkage Brown says are:
- ongoing urbanization
- economic uncertainty
- oil insecurity
- the prospect of higher gasoline prices
- the rising costs of traffic congestion
- mounting concerns about climate change, and
- declining interest in cars among young people who have grown up in cities.
Plus, there was this little thing in 2009 called "Cash for Clunkers" that scrapped 750,000 used cars. So, the U.S. fleet really dropped by 3.25 million or about 1.3%. Is that statistically significant? Brown also cites higher gas prices as a reason, which is a possibility. I'm so unfazed by gas prices now that I didn't realize prices had risen about $1 a gallon. Yikes!
OOYYO's comment: I personally think It's the rising cost of fuel & economic uncertainty being the major factors, Show me a young person who doesn't want their own car, come on. Tell us what you think. Oh yeah and Happy New Year to all!!!! :)
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