One billion cars by 2020
How will one billion vehicles affect the world? That's what Joseph B. White wonders in his article in the Wall Street Journal. While such a figure may represent encouraging growth for troubled automakers Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., it also, writes White, presents a challenge to them, other automakers, environmentalists, government bodies, and the average Joe/Jane.Traffic congestion, all too familiar to many drivers, will worsen. The city of London, England, is already increasing taxes on individual vehicles partially to discourage their use and to encourage use of mass transit systems. Other countries, including the U.S., are looking at similar policies. Fuel and material costs will definitely increase as drivers in India and China, where car sales growth has been near-explosive, demand a greater share of the world's limited supply of raw materials and petroleum. According to GM executive director of market and industry analysis Paul Ballew, managing growth, rather than finding ways to increase sales, will be the big issue for the automotive industry.
Other issues such as recycling disposed vehicles, other environmental impacts, and even the car's iconic status, are discussed in the article. What do you think about White's view? Comments are open for your thoughts.
[Source: Wall Street Journal via Salt Lake Tribune]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Noah 11:51AM (5/08/2006)
Another report states that Jay Leno will own up to 20% of them.
--Noah
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Shawn 11:55AM (5/08/2006)
Autoblog is becoming less about cars and more about social agendas contributors want to push. It's too bad. Maybe someone somewhere will start another site.
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MikeW 12:04PM (5/08/2006)
What about population control?
That is the big unsaid of the Kyoto protocol. Too many people all viaing for the same resources.
Maybe the industrial revolution was wrong.
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UH2L 12:13PM (5/08/2006)
1B cars on the planet is about cars as they relate to society so I think it's appropriate that Autoblog links to the article. If there is no room for more vehicle and fuel becomes more scarce and expensive, it will change what all of us drive. It's definitely worth considering. In 15 years, perhaps we will all be using car-sharing and public transportation a lot more. Then, driving cars will become more of a hobby, or something mostly for long trips. As auto enthusiasts, we might shudder to think about this, but we should.
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demonspirit666 12:27PM (5/08/2006)
"2. Autoblog is becoming less about cars and more about social agendas contributors want to push. It's too bad. Maybe someone somewhere will start another site."
Whats wrong with discussing the future of automobiles on autoblog?
Post like this are more interesting and relevant than stright up reviews for car nuts. I think autoblog is right in not seperating the cars from the economic/environmental/ political world that they ARE apart of. Its the big picture.
On another note, I think that effeciency should become the new bleeding edge of automotive innovation. We need the fuel that we have left to last as long as possible, give ourselves enough time to figure out the alternatives. Hedge our bets.
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Steve B. 12:44PM (5/08/2006)
Surely if we can have an article that does nothing but gush over yet another old-tech small-block Chevy V8, or one on the minute details of an Oxygen Sensor and its application within a modern engine, there is room for an article about the future of the automobile and its implications for society.
The most interesting aspect of autoblog is the convergence of diverse groups of automotive enthusiasts, from the shade-tree mechanics bemoaning the disappearance of carbeurators to technophiles looking to hack their Priuses (Prii?), from blue-collars checking out the latest manure-hauling pickups to white-collars looking for the latest 2-seat midlife-crisis purchase.
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Keith 1:08PM (5/08/2006)
I totally dislike public transit. Public transit is socialist and totalinarian. Remember George Orwell's 1984.
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John Smith 1:49PM (5/08/2006)
"Autoblog is becoming less about cars and more about social agendas contributors want to push. It's too bad. Maybe someone somewhere will start another site."
THANK YOU SHAWN!!!
Am I the only one here sick of this? Only Jalopnik is worse...
Please stick to cars. If you really want to save the planet: Move to a city, live in a high-rise and walk/bike/take public transport.
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Max 3:00PM (5/08/2006)
The future of automobiles and their place in society is a very serious question and one that certainly has a place on a blog about automobiles. I am a car fanatic but I use public transportation daily. I also realize the serious consequences that car culture and the continued burning up of fossil fuels will have and support programs to expand public transit and encourage more eco-friendly and traffic reducing forms of transportation, whether that is expansive public transit or automated fuel-cell vehicles in the future.
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x 4:53PM (5/08/2006)
can i have her ford taurus?
on a more serious note, such a study is very important for the future of cars as whole, especially sporting cars, which fail to fulfill any spacial requirement of automobile owning, much less storage of gas mileage.
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Glenn A. 8:11AM (5/09/2006)
Perhaps now some of you comprehend why Toyota felt it was necessary to invent the G21 (now known as the Prius).
True to form, Toyota looked way ahead in the 1990's, and it was a good business decision to realize how to continue IN business building cars while the oil reserves are used up, and while more demand (from many more cars) comes about.
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Jamin Aleman 1:08PM (5/09/2006)
It's just a matter time before there's a billion cars on the planet. Think about this. If there's a billion cars on the road, how many traffic tickets are being issued? No worries, because if you get a ticket you can get it off your record by taking an approved Defensive Driving Online course at http://www.defensive-drivingonline.com It is the easiest course on the net and is only $25. I've personally taken it twice.
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