What Do You Think Will Happen With The German Automakers?

[dlockhart]

It is not just cars. Like most western nations, it is debt.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/germanys-debt-fueled-illusions-merz-humiliated-economy-freefall


Toward the Sunset

The German economy alone ensures that 2026 will seamlessly continue the disaster of 2025. An honest economic assessment requires a willingness for an honest inventory. The state’s share of German GDP has long surpassed the magic mark of 50 percent.



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[faverymi]

My last german cars are less than desirable completely underwhelming and full of bugs

I just rode in a Hyundai Ioniq 9 and I was very impressed.

I wish I could get my hands on a new high end Geely or BYD

[matthewb0051]

I watch this really cool Aussie TV show on PBS/Amazon called RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service). The Doc fly around the outback or whatever to provide medical service to people in rural areas. This season (the 3rd) I started noticing a certain small pickup truck that I wasn't familiar with so I looked it up. Really cool looking. EDIT: the show is fictional but the RFDS is a real thing and has been around since 1928.

JAC is the brand. It’s a smaller automaker from China, having produced 592,500 vehicles in 2023. The company produces a great proportion of vehicles for export. It also runs an operation in China in partnership with Volkswagen and produces vehicles for Nio as well.

Base model would be around $25k USD if offered here. Looks pretty cool but I suspect that is a higher trim level.

https://www.theautopian.com/the-jac-t9-is-the-kind-of-cheap-chinese-truck-america-would-get-if-tariffs-didnt-exist/

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I remember when Seattle had some sort of a car share program. Can't remember what it was called. The woman who founded it sold it and went on to bigger and better things. I remember seeing an interview with her in one of the bigger car mags wherein she said she saw the day coming when a car would no longer be something available for private ownership, but rather only offered as a "service", at least in large cities.

As the WHO and WEF say, “you will own nothing and you will be happy”.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

How long before private car ownership is largely shutdown and replaced with autonomous vehicles on a uber like service.

Quite a while in the areas that are not urban jungles with 5 million plus populations.

I can sometimes drive three miles and not see another vehicle. Oklahoma City "metro area" is over 1,000 square miles, and a population of about a million. I can drive for 30 minutes and not get to the city limits if I go west. And I am not even close to to east edge of the city.

Montana and the Dakotas will need private cars long into the future long after I am gone.

Now for LA or NYC, they have government run mass transit now. How well does that work?

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Quite a while in the areas that are not urban jungles with 5 million plus populations.

I can sometimes drive three miles and not see another vehicle. Oklahoma City "metro area" is over 1,000 square miles, and a population of about a million. I can drive for 30 minutes and not get to the city limits if I go west. And I am not even close to to east edge of the city.

Montana and the Dakotas will need private cars long into the future long after I am gone.

Now for LA or NYC, they have government run mass transit now. How well does that work?

Totally concur with you assessment for non urban communities. I am referencing the coastal and exceptional inland communities where a uber today can be picking you up 10 minutes after you order it. Totally autonomous and will not wait for you. Go shopping, get dropped off, walk out the store…shopping done and order a return ride, from a car in queue in what used to be a lot filled with owner cars.

Imagine the service for the elderly and folks no longer allowed to drive. They (States) could raise the DL tests so strict that only a rare exception passes. Just spitballing here.

[john70t]

Starting in the 1980's, Americans did not appreciate the offerings of the K-car and Ford Escort and other blessings by General Motors.

Instead they bought Japanese vehicles. And German.

[jyl]

Looking over the current BMW line, I think they have too many models. I count thirty-three models. That’s kind of ridiculous. Their styling is undistinguished. They basically look like generic Asian vehicle with a pair of giant nostrils pasted on. I haven’t driven a recent BMW, I assume they drive well.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I had a 1-series BMW for a rental earlier this year and was very underwhelmed. It was very synthetic, everything felt fake about the driving experience. It was also touchscreen everything and the interfaces were terrible.

[billybek]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

As the WHO and WEF say, “you will own nothing and you will be happy”.

Not to parf this up but I believe that was our Prime Minister.
We're domed....

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by john70t

Starting in the 1980's, Americans did not appreciate the offerings of the K-car and Ford Escort and other blessings by General Motors.

Instead they bought Japanese vehicles. And German.

Maybe starting earlier but the reasons are the same as you state for value seeking Japanese car buyers. German/Swedish were for the favorably nerdy with (much?) more coin. Not sure any American offer could entise them.

[oldE]

Actually Billy that was a Danish politician Ida Auken in an essay written in 2016.