Red car list: these vehicle types could disappear from the road

In recent decades, manufacturers have not been able to bring enough different car models to market. Now the trend is turning around and some types are disappearing.

In view of the continuing flood of new SUVs and their derivatives, it’s hard to believe that the trend in the auto industry is toward a reduction in the number of models on offer. ford has already announced particularly massive plans, nissan also wants to focus more on core models in the future, and at daimler even the works council recently called for a red pencil for the proliferating portfolio. Further examples could easily be found. background are mostly cost issues or problems with CO2 emissions. The downsizing is likely to be particularly severe in the following five vehicle classes.

Subcompact cars: the unloved stepchildren

The inexpensive cars in the 10.000-euro-class cars have always been the unloved stepchildren of the manufacturers, they yielded comparatively little profit. In view of the impending CO2 penalties in the EU, they are even likely to become loss-makers in the future. Because, contrary to what one might expect, they often have a rather negative impact on a manufacturer’s fleet consumption. This is because expensive fuel-saving technology is hardly worthwhile for them, which means that consumption is quite high relative to larger models.

An efficiency upgrade would be too expensive, also in view of new EU regulations for safety equipment, which are also likely to result in price increases from 2022 onwards. microcars have a chance of survival against this backdrop primarily as electric cars for urban traffic. With the smart fortwo EQ and the technology triplets VW E-up, skoda citigo E and seat mii electric, the first such models are already on the horizon. In the 10.000-euro league, however, they are all no longer playing.

vans and minivans are replaced by suvs

Minivans and vans, once coveted as practical family transporters, have almost disappeared from the market over the past five years the discontinued model. According to figures from the analysis institute jato dynamics, in germany in 2013 there were still 419.000 vehicles like the VW sharan, Renault espace or ford S-max sold. Last year, there were only 346.000.

vans have been replaced by suvs and crossovers, which score points for more coolness and less diaper smell. The death of the family utility vehicle is likely to continue in the future. Ford has already announced that it will soon no longer be offering the van cornerstone galaxy and its S-max brother. A crossover takes their place.

Convertibles are not worthwhile for manufacturers

Shortly after the turn of the millennium, convertibles once again had a high the weatherproof tin roof brought the topless idea into the middle of the automotive society, suddenly there were corresponding models across all classes. The boom with far more than 100.000 annual new registrations lasted only a short time, however. Last year, just 75.500 new units on the road tendency further decreasing. Have the Germans lost their taste for fresh-air driving?? Probably not.

In fact, the manufacturers lack commitment they have recently slimmed down their model range considerably. The reason might be economic as a rule: convertibles are mainly popular in germany and the united kingdom. In important markets such as China, on the other hand, no one would voluntarily do without a roof too hot the sun is shining and the air is too dirty.

For the increasingly international manufacturers, the development and certification of a convertible therefore less and less. Only the premium and luxury manufacturers are still offering a large number of such models, and the range of sports cars remains relatively constant.

Real off-road vehicles must make way for suvs

It is a nasty rumor that SUVs, which may soon be banned from cities, will have to give up at the first sign of mud and debris. that they are not driven off asphalted roads, is rather due to the worry about paint and rims than a general inability to drive off-road. However, crossovers still can’t compete with real off-road vehicles.

With the mercedes G, the jeep wrangler and the land rover defender, there are currently only three of these rugged beasts left on the market. Other long-time companions like nissan patrol or mitsubishi pajero have long since disappeared. The suzuki jimny is hardly available in this country, and the lada niva will soon no longer be officially imported. apart from the new edition of the defender, not much new blood is expected in this segment in the near future. If you want more from your all-wheel-drive car than a beefy look, you’ll probably have to go for a pickup in the future.

Cars with manual transmissions

the manual transmission is not yet dead, as was recently demonstrated by the public outcry, which followed announcements by the federal ministry of transport, to fully recognize the driving test with automatic cars in the future. But the fact that the proposal existed at all indicates that the manual gearshift is coming under pressure. There are several reasons for this. One of them is the electric car, which usually does without changeable gears, because the electric motor revs up to maximum from standstill.

in addition, automatic transmissions have become increasingly faster and, above all, more economical in recent years. They have long since conquered the market in the USA and Asia, in the meantime, vehicles with manual transmission are expensive exotics there. In germany, however, the price advantage currently lies in the system with gear stick and clutch, which should secure the manual transmission a niche in the budget segment for the foreseeable future. But that’s all it will probably ever be.