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July 06, 2018 02:00 AM

Column: Auto industry dichotomy

Keith Crain
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    We have all been told repeatedly that petroleum-powered vehicles are doomed and that the future lies in electrification and autonomous vehicles. The world seems intent on banning or outlawing gasoline or diesel vehicles.

    As time goes on, we hear about more governments enacting some sort of zero-emission vehicle sales quotas that will require a certain number of electric vehicles for every gasoline-powered vehicle. It is a formula that no car company, except Tesla, will win.

    Meanwhile, at auto shows across the globe, we're seeing more high-performance vehicles available for sale.

    What once was a rare occurrence is becoming more normal. For folks who are interested in high-performance vehicles—or, as some are now called, hyperperformance vehicles—there are more choices than ever before. What was once a six- or even seven-figure investment today is available for considerably less, and what was once available only to the rich and fortunate is being made available to most anyone who is interested.

    It seems that we are seeing more of a dichotomy between high performance and saving the planet.

    My best guess is that it won't be too long before governments do their best to try to ban any vehicles that have even the slightest hint of performance using conventional fuels such as gasoline.

    But whether governments like it or not, customers still have an obsession with performance and are willing to wait in line to have a chance to plunk down their dollars to own one of these high-performance beauties, whether it is a Mustang, Camaro or Ferrari.

    It will be easy for auto retailers to take care of their customers' desires for as long as products are available. Manufacturers, on the other hand, will soon be caught between a rock and a hard place with all sorts of new and odious rules that will make it tougher to satisfy those desires.

    For folks who enjoy high-performance vehicles, this is the Golden Age.

    I don't think it will last forever, so enjoy it while you can.

    Crain is chairman of Crain Communications Inc., parent company of Rubber & Plastics News.

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