As someone who has worked in US automotive manufacturing for a while... we literally all say this constantly. No one wants any of this crap in their car unless they are that out-of-touch-with-reality wealthy.
and yet the barebones models that exist dont sell.
Several of the "Japanese" makers that still offered 20k-ish base model cars with no options recently they all discontinued them because they accounted for not even a rounding error in sales.
No one wants them.
Someone would rather buy a used car with more options for the same price 99 times out of 100.
Because realistically, some stuff has become normal to the gen that has grown up driving them. No backup camera would require a driving lesson or two. It’s hotter than it used to be so no AC sorta sucks. People need their phone to navigate. Roll down windows are something you don’t even think of unless they’re gone.
If something is so basics that it feels antique then I can see that being an issue. And you’re still paying interest on it. Basic but still in-line with what people view as modern is different.
Even then “no one wants them” isn’t accurate. They’re a rounding error because you also need to sell more of them. One person buying an expensive car accounts for 3 people buying a cheap car. Lots of rich and upper middle class people exist so realistically their spending will, from an accounting standpoint, be better for sales unless cheap options reach a critical mass of sales.
outside of fleet vehicles, the people that want bare bones cars and the people who purchase brand new cars and not used cars are basically just two separate circles...
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u/TheDevilsDominium 10h ago edited 9h ago
As someone who has worked in US automotive manufacturing for a while... we literally all say this constantly. No one wants any of this crap in their car unless they are that out-of-touch-with-reality wealthy.
Edit: fixed an added dash that didn't belong.