Now the novena for the car market can be considered complete, but it is not certain that the miracle will happen. On the contrary. At the announcement of the ninth consecutive month of contraction of the European 4-wheeler market (June at -1,7% compared to the same month in 2011, and May had marked a drop of 8,4) there is now a chorus of Cassandras: the car is over; the car is of no interest to young people. The car is socially and politically a loser. Maybe so. But it would be appropriate to try to summarize the causes.
Major economic observers argue that the collapse of the market is proportional to the economic crises of individual countries. In short, there is less well-being in circulation and the primary needs to be satisfied are increasingly distant from the emotion and pleasure of changing cars. With many distinctions, motivation satisfies most of the questions. But others remain. Unrae (the union of foreign brands present in Italy) says that at the end of 2012 new car registrations in Italy will slightly exceed one million and 400 thousand. Light years below the almost two and a half million registrations in 2007, the year of the third (and last) state incentive.
But to find a worse figure, we have to go back to 1979, the last year with less than one million and 400 thousand new cars. Thirty-three years: almost a generation and a half. And in between there was the great economic crisis of the early 80s; not to mention the dramatic three-year period 1993-'95, complete with the devaluation of the lira and even the unforgotten forced withdrawal from current accounts. Terrible times, but never under one million and 600 thousand registered cars.
Other data. Between 2005 and 2010, the only age group that recorded an increase in the purchase of new cars was that relating to the over 65s: +14,6%. For the other age brackets, a drop indirectly proportional to age: -4,4% for the 56-65 age group; -11,8 between 46 and 55; -27,9% for customers between 30 and 45 years of age; up to a terrifying -28,4% for young people from novice drivers to under 30 (source L'Espresso). In other words: young people are less interested in cars. And this, for the market, is a dramatic figure, especially in terms of the future. But here's another doubt: is it the fault of disinterest or lack of economic possibilities?
In favor of the latter thesis, here is another fact: in the decay of the car in Europe only the luxury brands are saved. With several distinctions, also in this case. But that brands like Audi and Mercedes and Volkswagen are suffering less, much less than their competitors, is a fact. To suffer, are Peugeot and Renault and also Citroen in France. The low-cost brands sign positive results, perhaps emanating from big tarnished brands as happens for the very economical Dacia linked to Renault. But otherwise, it's tears.
Up to Fiat. To our Fiat. Which as a group scores positive results in Europe for Lancia, which is returning to offer something after years of absence from the market, or almost so. Or for the Chrysler and Jeep brands. But it marks time dramatically for the central brand, Fiat, and for Alfa Romeo: respectively -17,5 and -31,1% less in the total for the first six months of this year.
Is it all the fault of the declining economy? Or the ever-increasing costs that our country imposes on the automobile: from fuel to taxes; from insurance to real heavy taxes (400 and more euros for a single change of ownership...) to be faced for every minimum practice involving ACI, Motorization, Public automotive register?
In short, the sector seems to pay heavily for the many measures inflated and which today make the car package too heavy. Exaggerated dimensions and weights for ex-compact cars now magnified into mid-range sedans. Unacceptable consumption when technology today would allow double distances compared to those actually allowed. Too much shit, one might say. Especially when they prevent the approach of young people who don't have a real job and who knows when they will be able to. And that bank credit, which is difficult for everyone, cannot even come close. Who knows who, when, how, will focus on this complex of realities that make it increasingly difficult to approach a new car.
