Good Thursday morning to you!
I purchased new tires for my vehicle this week, and it reminded me of a great conversation I had with some industry friends a decade or so ago about flying cars. I shared how I thought they could work in today’s world. They thought I was crazy. I certainly may be, but I still believe in the future of personal transportation in the air.
Now let me be clear. I am not talking about a “Jetsons”-style demolition derby in space. Rather, I envision a “Star Wars”-style landspeeder near the ground. Play along for a moment.
According to Statista.com, nearly 9.2 million passenger and commercial vehicles are produced annually and almost 14 million vehicles are sold in the United States each year. As such, Americans buy a lot of tires. In 2022, we spent $61 billion.
And then there’s this. A 2019 study by Transportation for America finds the U.S. needs about $231.4 billion per year over six years to maintain and repair the nation's roads. That’s a lot of tax dollars.
So, just in tires and road repair, we are spending nearly $300 billion per year. What could we do with $300 billion?
What if we didn’t need tires? What if our vehicles never touched — or damaged — pavement? What if we kept our current road systems, traffic signals, law enforcement, etc., but our vehicles traveled just a foot or two off the ground?
I realize this may not be feasible for semi-trucks or most other heavy equipment, but the technology is undoubtedly available for passenger vehicles. I don’t imagine the tire or blacktop industries even appreciate the concept, and I understand the impact this could have on traditional jobs in those categories, but… what if?
I am certainly not an automotive engineer, and I am not suggesting gasoline engines over electric vehicles or vice versa. I simply don’t like to buy tires, and I am astounded by the ongoing costs of road repair.
Call me George Jetson if you want. I don’t mind. I am going to keep floating the discussion on flying cars, and I look forward to seeing you in space.
Have a thoughtful Thursday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com
Founder of Portugal Panorama Capital, Golden Visa Fund Pioneer, Initiator of Unique Investment Opportunities
2moLooking forward to seeing it in a couple of weeks!