Thoughts on the State of the Import Scene

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Thoughts on the State of the Import Scene... Blog By Jim Pan on Tuner Galleria

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Thoughts on the State of the Import Scene...

Posted: 11/7/2010



I recently decided to write again and have chosen to blog here on the TUNER GALLERIA site as my sounding board. For those that have really known me, writing has always been a secret passion of mine. Several years ago, I wrote for Modified Luxury & Exotics in my own editorial column. My stint as a contributing editor for MLE lasted about 16 months before the obligations of my businesses just didn't allow much free time anymore. While free time is still scarce these days, I will try to blog here on a regular basis. Having just returned from SEMA 2010, here are some of my random thoughts:

As the automotive aftermarket industry gathers once again to demonstrate the latest in performance parts, accessories, wheels and tires, etc., the question remains...what fuels this multi-billion dollar industry in times of dramatically reduced discretionary income and high unemployment rates? While financial analysts and experts state that we as a country have dug out of the recession several months ago, clearly this is not felt on Main Street, USA. Certain pockets of the country like Detroit, New Orleans, and even "Sin City" itself, Las Vegas face continued troubled times. The credit crunch, low consumer confidence and overall poor public sentiment create a terrible backdrop for an industry based solely on wants, and not needs.

The love and passion for cars uniquely transcend all barriers...cultural, racial, age, sex, and economics. Luckily for those of us in the industry, it also transcends rationality as consumers can not fight the urge to modify their rides despite these difficult times. The automotive aftermarket is an industry like many others facing attrition. Only those companies and organizations that operate efficiently and remain ahead of the curve will survive.

Walking through SEMA, it is clear that the state of our economy here in the US still lags. In the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, many perennial exhibitors are still missing, including the likes of Yokohama Tire, Dunlop Tire, and Toyo Tire, while other larger booths in the past like Lexani/Asanti were scaled back. Replacing these booths to some extent were manufacturers from China. Many suggest that the Chinese market will surpass the United States as the top new vehicle consuming country by 2015.

If today's import car scene is the hot rod scene of yesterday, the automotive aftermarket industry is under barrage and in trouble. Today the youth scene is so fragmented and the attention span of its audience shorter than ever before. In an age dominated by social media, what chance does the car scene have for survival? Today's youth must have an iPhone or a smart phone with texting and internet surfing capability, laptops or iPads, wireless internet access, various video game consoles, etc. The money that might have been spent on a car payment or on car modifications is instead reallocated to social media and other means of connectivity. For those of us that grew up immersed in the car culture, we need to work together and figure out a solution of how to bridge the gap.

What are your thoughts?

Mike

I recently read an article elsewhere, by someone else who also posited that the new generation was getting away from the auto scene and mor into the tech stuff. All they really care about in a car is connectivity.

__________________
NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z
Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

fairladyZ34

I know where i went to highschool there is no body there into the car scene at all, i graduated there 2 years ago and it was only me and my friends that did and still do enjoy driving and modifying cars. Its a shame, kids just study now and days

__________________
From Z to G to BMW and back to a G! Nismo for life

ThoriumHotdog

Another cheesy Fast and the Furious type movie aimed at the kids will do wonders... or destroy us all together, I'm not sure which.

jakoye

Haha! That reminds me of an old NOFX song:

There's something wrong with the kids in my neighborhood
They always listen to music
They disregard civil disobedience
They'd rather do what they're told
They don't drink, or f*#k, or fight
They sit home, and read, expand their minds

There's something wrong with the kinds in my cul-de-sac
They're always goin to church
They dress well and they're speaking articulate
They show each other respect
They're never late, don't joke or break rules
They eat right, study hard, they like school

There's something wrong with the kids in my neighborhood

__________________
Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.

Junior370z

Me being a father of 4 (2 boys 2 girls) I see the trend of kids wanting all the new technological gizmos, ps3, itouch, etc. When I work on my car I always try to involve my boys I. Sharing the excitement of installing new parts. I'm hopin they too one day will take up the automotive hobby. I know my youngest loves anything that has to do with cars. Yeah he's only 3 but a lot of times that's the age it starts. I always encourage his love for car with hot wheels and things like that. I really hope it sticks with him when he's older. My oldest who's 12 on the other hand isn't really interested. Too busy talking too his friends about the newest tech stuff. I guess I'll see when the time comes when he needs a car for high school lol!

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DON'T DO IT!

Waiz

The import scene has changed alot as people have gotten older and moved onto other things or out of cars all together. I'm starting to notice more and more people getting into the old-school JDM scene as something different. I myself will have most likely built my last modern car for some time and will focus on an older cars for my next projects.

In respect to the younger scene they are definitely infusing new interest into the market but have a form over function attitude and a short attention span. Those who are flighty will most likely move onto something else while others will start to embrace the technical and functional side of the scene.

Overall, I definitely think the economy has taken a profound toll on the industry and it will take a few years to recover anything close to what we had prior.

butdamnbrian

this topic reminds me of the very last editorial published in the very last issue of sport compact car magazine before the publication went away:

The Future Of Tuning - Sport Compact Car Magazine

i was really sad to see SCC go, and this article was really sad to me.

Waiz

Definitely was sad to see SCC go, although Super Street has been improving with more technical articles in the last two years.

Mike

On the bright side, when I had my C6, I would see young kids clapping and jumping whe. I drove by, and theyget excited by the z with it's salad bar too

__________________
NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z
Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

EazyD

There's hope.

I am one of those 'kids of that generation' who most think need their gadgets, ps3s, iPads, etc. Social media? I'm even in Marketing.

The only difference is I found the Z. Instant enthusiast. I've been sacrificing gadgets and gizmos and cable TV ever since. And I'm going to spread the love!

Rooskey

Its sorry to say but alot of kids are just not active these days. Most just want to sit behind a video game or computer rather than go outside and be creative. I myself played the old nintendo but when my first fourwheeler came around it was for real game on! People like to sit on there axs to much these days while others do the work for them. I think its easier for alot of parents to let em do it too. Get out (out doors)America, be creative, work hard for what u expect this ecomomy to become. Its not going to happen by itself. Fast cars and 4x4's have always been an escape for me. I can go out and wrench, race, or climb something with an old ride and forget the struggles of the days at hand. Todays innovations have nothing to do with imagination