Nissan Exec says Car Culture is Fading

[4everhonda]

Agree or disagree?

DETROIT (Fortune) -- If you are looking for some insight into what the automobile of the future will look like you could do worse than talk with Tom Lane. An American, he runs all of Nissan's Product Strategy anad Product Planning from his office in Tokyo.

Unlike most executives, he welcomes the imposition of new U.S. fuel regulations that mandate 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

"It is not an issue" for Nissan (NSANY) he says.

He expects the new regs to drive more small cars, improved technoloy, and a broader variety of shapes and sizes, as designers try to get more variety out of similarly-sized vehicles.

But he points to some discouraging global trends that don't bode well for the industry.

He notes that consumers in Japan are losing their mojo when it comes to cars. The population is aging, and younger drivers would rather spend their money on new cellphones and Internet access.

"Japan is increasingly not interested in new cars," he says.

The population in Europe is aging too, and Lane sees similar ennui spreading there. As car ownership becomes more expensive and cities increasingly impose congestion pricing on car usage in center cities, he sees car owners switching to mass transit for their daily commute, and then renting cars for longer trips.

"The U.S. is headed that way," he says. "The challenge for us, going forward, is a more interesting offer. Doing a better Sentra or an Altima isn't going to do it."

http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/14/news...ion=2008011409

[TireMeltingRSX]

These bastards need to realize there's still a market for coupes... not everyone wants 4 doors

[duckdog]

Originally Posted by TireMeltingRSX

These bastards need to realize there's still a market for coupes... not everyone wants 4 doors

to the god damn

[Ska]

Car culture isn't fading, manufacturers aren't putting out cars that young people get excited about anymore. When I was a kid, I remember looking out the window (in my parents' Chevy Lumina, nonetheless) and staring at 300zx's, Supras, 3000gt's, Z28 Camaros, Eclipses (when they didn't look like a Grand Am ripoff), MR2's, and all kinds of cool stuff like that. Who the heck is making cars like that that I'm gonna get excited about now? Am I supposed to be thrilled that about stupid econoboxes like the Fit and the Cobalt? Um, no. Go screw yourself and then build me a 2-door RWD/AWD hot hatch packing at least 250hp that looks like a Ferrari and a Lambo had a one-night stand, then we'll talk about car culture.

[Nikon1]

I agree with Matt! While the cars I saw growing up were different, they were exciting and took your breath away.

Today's cars - :yawn: for the most part . . . except for the ones that most mortals can't afford. Detroit and Tokyo are fooling themselves - and trying to blow smoke up our asses by making stupid statements like that!