U.S. scrapped more cars than bought new ones in 2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters Tue Jan 5, 2010) - According to a new report by the Earth Policy Institute (EPI) the United States scrapped 14 million autos while buying only 10 million last year, shrinking the country’s car and light duty truck fleet to 246 million from a record high of 250 million, according to the report to be released on Wednesday by nonprofit group the EPI.
The United States, the world’s biggest petroleum user, “is entering a new era, evolving from a car-dominated transport system to one that is much more diversified,” said Lester Brown, the president of the EPI.
In addition, market saturation of autos, urbanization, high oil prices that reached a record $147 a barrel in 2008, and the uncertain economy have helped cut car sales, Brown said. Given those forces, sales may never reach the 17 million per year level they were between 1999 and 2007, he said.
A continued drop in auto purchases could cut long-term oil demand and greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. he said. It could also lead to increases in steel supplies as big cars get recycled, Brown said.
Brown used data from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration and R.L. Polk & Co to write the report.
ZED COMMENT: The United States may be decreasing the number of vehicles on the road, but globally the demand for cars, and petroleum fuel, brings us ever closer to a permanent fuel shortage. Emerging countries with large populations and high demand, such as India and China, are more than offsetting American decreases. Unless alternate engines and fuels are phased in immediately, experts concur that a crisis is imminent.