Is the end of the convertible near?
For some it’s a midlife crisis, for others it’s a dream: feeling the wind in your hair while driving in a convertible. This may soon be a thing of the past though. Since 2004, sales have declined drastically and according to some specialists the end of the convertible is near. Many carwash owners will probably be relieved.
We have to be cautious with our predictions though, investigating reporter site Cheddar warns. In 1976, the Cadillac Eldorado was advertised as the last convertible on the market. Stricter security rules would make it impossible to sell convertibles in the future, it was thought.
But from 1982 onwards, the amount of sold convertibles started to rise again. Sales peaked in 2004, with more than 831.000 ‘cabriolets’ sold worldwide.
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Financial crisis
A decade later, under the influence of a monetary crisis, sales plummeted once again. This time for good, so it seems. The number of convertibles on the new car market is still dropping and Volkswagen recently even decided to stop producing convertibles altogether.
The T-Roc convertible, the last model to be built by Volkswagen, will be discontinued after the model change next year. Previously, the open-top versions of the Golf and Beetle as well as the Eos had already disappeared.
A similar development can be seen at Opel, Nissan, Hyundai and Renault. Only some premium and luxury manufacturers want to continue to offer convertibles.
California
For a long time, Germany was regarded as one of the few safe sales markets alongside the UK and California. Most other regions offer climatic conditions that are either too cold or too hot to drive without a roof above your head.
But another thing is at hand. China has surpassed many other countries when it comes to car sales. And almost no one would drive a convertible since the air pollution there is often way too high. Furthermore, many SUV’s now compete with the traditional sports car. There have simply become more powerful than in the past.
Many convertible drivers have a special bond with their beloved vehicles. Taking good care of it is therefore an important issue for this target group. With convertibles being soon a thing of the past, so may be this dedicated group of customers.
It is yet another example of the many changes taking place in the car wash industry.
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