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Why Millennials Just Don't Care About Cars

Internet obsession is a big reason, but it's not the only one.

By Claire_Martin Apr 4, 2012 6:46AM
Smart ForTwo photo by Smart.It's true that members of the generation known as Millennials, or "Generation Y," are more interested in going online than getting behind the wheel of a car. A new study by the Transportation Research Institute of the University of Michigan shows an inversely proportional relationship between Internet use and driver licensing rates across this demographic. But the reasons for their automobile apathy go well beyond the Web. Here are the top six.

1. They don't need cars to get around: Millennials are drawn to cities, where public transportation is plentiful and parking is a hassle. "Millennials are more likely than past generations to live in an urban community," writes Jordan Weissmann in The Atlantic. "This may be part of what terrifies car makers." 

2. They don't think cars are worth the trouble: "They hate waiting in traffic and don’t love the cost of maintaining vehicles," says Neil Chambers of Treehugger.com. "They dislike the amount of land used for parking lots, roads and highways, and they loath the alternatives car companies are offering."

3. They like to share: They're drawn to the mobility and convenience of cars, but they seek out alternatives to car ownership. About 53 percent of Millennials recently surveyed by Zipcar said they would likely use a car-sharing service. "Millennials recognize the limited value of paying so much for something they use so little," says Scott Griffith, chairman and CEO of Zipcar. "They want the freedom to drive, but reject the financial burden of car ownership." 

4. They value their free time: Even in car-centric Los Angeles, college students would swap car ownership for more time to do other things. "A [UCLA] student explained that taking a bus usually increases her travel time by 60 to 90 minutes," according to Chambers' research. Nevertheless, the student and her friends still do it. "[I]t frees them up to read, study, do homework, text friends, engage social media and, well, 'just stare off into space.'"

5. They're concerned about the environment, but they're broke: According to Zipcar's study, 55 percent of Millennials surveyed have made a conscious decision to drive less. Environmental concerns, increased use of social media and the expense of vehicle ownership were their reasons. But in addition, they're not buying hybrids or electric vehicles because they can't afford the high sticker prices and the costly maintenance. Instead, they avoid driving altogether. And if they do buy a new vehicle, it's something small, inexpensive and fuel-efficient, like a Smart car.  

6. They don't really have anywhere to go: Millennials suffered during the recession, so they don't need cars for one very practical reason. According to Dale Buss, of Forbes: "Millennials have been hard-hit by unemployment since the beginning of the Great Recession and so [they] have less need or occasion to use a vehicle to get to work."
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61Comments
Sick Of BS
Apr 14, 2012 4:13PM
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Just about every city that has a population over 50,000 people has public transportation. What are you people talking about the author living in a little bubble? I live in a small city within the MOJAVE DESERT, and we have public transit. You people are just nut case whiners. Maybe if when you went outside you turned off the Rush Limbaugh, you would notice not everybody is driving an SUV or pick up truck.

bube doobler
Apr 14, 2012 1:30PM
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My guess would be that as sh*tty as the job market is these days generation Y as well as all the rest just simply can't afford to be interested in cars, or anything else for that matter. It's very difficult at best to just survive on part time minimum wage jobs, IF you are lucky enough to even land one at all. So there.
Lexicon Devil
Apr 14, 2012 1:13PM
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hey Glen, newsflash...........​Dallas has public transportation.  You are a liar looking for attention because you feel the need to tell everyone your disdain for jury duty. Grow up little angry boy!
Glen in Dallas
Apr 14, 2012 12:27PM
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Where me and mine live there is no public transportation.  The official government attitude is that if you do not have a vehicle for personal transportation then you are not welcome in this neighborhood.

My stepson was recently informed that he has to show up for jury duty.  He has no vehicle.  His attempts to contact a government human have ended up in voice menu hell.  He has no guarantee that the government, after paying the judge and lawyers fees, will be able to compensate him for taxicab fare.  Therefore, he will not show up for jury selection.



beavwarius
Apr 14, 2012 11:43AM
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I love this nonsense about public trans. not viable option. I work in automotive and have run public transit fleets. I have lived in n.y. rural and urban,ga,fl,wis,chicago,denv​er,san antonio,bay area,ca. reno, rural Washington , northern ca. most(not all) communities have made efforts to improve and upgrade systems.all have their limitations. most americans on the eastern seaboard have less distance to travel between work and home,and tend to rely more on public transit. in western areas, most large cities have good public transit. to rural america, mass transit is not an option
Jon Ham (Jon NWA)
Apr 14, 2012 11:01AM
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Most of the United States does not have a viable public transportation and if you have to work you have to be able and willing to drive.
gtruuuu
Apr 14, 2012 10:52AM
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If this is an advertisement for Zipcar, it is not a very good one.
imbabyjj
Apr 14, 2012 10:45AM
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This has to be written by some idiot who lives in New York City and knows nothing outside her little world. In the rest of the USA we know that public transportation is not a real alternative. Many places do not even have public transportation. It is almost impossible to survive in the USA without a car.
Wake up people402
Apr 14, 2012 10:38AM
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Who really cares about cars? Too much candy for a cent with all the electronic/computer gadgets that can go wrong. We've become braindead from technology.

 

I'd rather have a vehicle from the 70's--shadetree mechanics, roll down your own damned window and let me just drive till I find my destination.

 

There are more important things in life. We live everyday with the news of terrorism, biblical weather events, murders from people who really don't care if they get caught, a great lack of respect for God and each other, jobs lost to and from technology that have also gone overseas, $4-5.00/gallon for gas, the list is sorrowfully endless--

 

Let's get back to basics!!!   Baring teeth

Derelict
Apr 14, 2012 9:52AM
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When are we going to stop letting the media saddle everyone with "Boomer, X'er, Y'er, or whatever else kind of crap made-up classification name they decide to come up with to compartmentalise everyone into their little boxes?  I, for one, am getting really tired of all this stupid nonsense.
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