Have you noticed lately that cars seem to be getting smaller? The Smart Car, the Prius, even SUVs seem to be getting smaller. How is it possible that in a society where people seem to be getting bigger, their cars seem to be getting smaller? Quite simply, people are beginning to realize the many disadvantages of owning a large car. Larger cars consume more gas, which is bad for the environment, as well as your pocketbook. They cost more to maintain, both in the cost of everyday fuel for the car and maintenance costs. Larger cars are also more difficult to park. And, if you live in a city where parking is a premium, such as San Francisco or Los Angeles, parallel parking a Jetta is a great deal easier than parallel parking a Hummer. In a different time, large cars were primarily purchased by people with large families. Due to advances in technology and women joining the workforce, families are choosing to have fewer children. In fact, an increasing number of married couples are electing to not have any children. These factors have led to a decreased need for large traditional family cars, such as the family station wagon. In addition to hauling around 3 or 4 or even 5 kids, people used to actually go to a store such as KMart or Circuit City and buy large household appliances that they would then have to drive home. Today, we can go on-line, and within a few minutes, compare prices, reviews and ratings for several products and make purchases with the click of a mouse. And, like magic, our purchased items show up at our home a few days later. The average person in today’s society seems to have outgrown the need for a large automobile.But, despite the trending toward the preference for small cars, there still is a core audience to whom large cars have an appeal. People who own their own small business, for example, especially those in service industries such as plumbers, dry cleaners, roofers, painters, landscapers, and the like, continue to rely on large automobiles as an critical part of the operation of their business. These people are the true core of the truck market, and will continue to need large vehicles to run their businesses. The rest of the population, however, will continue to trend toward smaller vehicles.In the future, it will not be surprising to see 1 or 2 passenger vehicles as the norm. As hybrid, electric, and other alternative technologies develop in the coming years, it will change the automobile industry forever. Within 10 years, Americans will most likely move entirely away from gas-powered cars, and along with this shift cars will continue to become smaller and more efficient. Gone are the days of the huge clunker cars, spewing oil all over the driveways. Hello, cars of the future! Although, don’t expect any flying cars just yet, baby steps… Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society
