R.L. Polk & Co. have completed their annual
survey of the U.S. motor vehicle population, and cars, like people, are
living longer.
Of all the cars and light trucks in use in the U.S. in 2005, only 4.3 percent ended up
in the scrap heap – an all-time low. Meanwhile, the median age of cars on the road was up to 9 years, setting an
all-time record for the fourth year running. The median age for light trucks also rose, to 6.6 years.
The
median age figure is troublesome to carmakers, because it goes hand in hand with declining new vehicle registrations.
In 1995, the median age of cars was only
7.7 years.
Polk sees the trend continuing, as vehicle engine technology and overall durability continue
to improve, letting drivers hang on to their rides even longer.