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December 31, 2008

Young Japanese have little love for cars

  • Toyota even developed its own suburban shopping mall with a dealership as one way to reach out to buyers.
    • By YURI KAGEYAMA
    AP Business Writer

    TOKYO — To get around the city, Yutaka Makino hops on his skateboard or rides commuter trains. Does he dream of the day when he has his own car? Not a chance.

    Like many Japanese of his generation, the 28-year-old musician and part-time maintenance worker says owning a car is more trouble than it's worth, especially in a congested city where monthly parking runs as much as 30,000 yen ($330), and gas costs $3.50 a gallon (about 100 yen a liter).


     
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