Auto Companies' Conundrum – How To Sell What We Have Now

Steve Ryan from Australia writes: There must be millions of new internal combustion engine (ICE) cars sitting at ports and storage lots all over the world awaiting delivery to owners who do not want to buy them.

I have to think you’re right, Steve. As if the car companies needed more trouble, they face customers’ anticipation of a disruptive innovation — anticipation that I would think would make it very hard for them to sell what’s in dealers’ showrooms right this minute. My 1995 BMW 540i has 204,000 miles on it, but it’s still in my garage because I’ve sworn to myself that I’m never going to by another ICE-based car. I can’t believe I’m alone in that decision.

For grins, I called my local Toyota dealer and asked his, “When can I buy a Prius that I can plug in?” He said, “Oh, we have not plans to offer anything like that.” Now, of course, if by “we” he means Toyota, this is not at all true. But I’m sure, based on what he’s been told, he’s telling the truth. Why tell a dealer ANYTHING that will make it hard to sell what’s on his lot?