# The Race To Build Really Cheap Cars By Justin Good | Published 2007-04-25 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-race-to-build-really-cheap-cars References: [treehugger](http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/04/under_3000_the.php#1) & [businessweek](http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_17/b4031064.htm) Let the price wars for [sub-compact cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toyota-gr-yaris-aero-performance) begin! Car companies seem to be racing to build really cheap cars. Renault-Nissan announced at a plant-opening on April 4th that it was planning on building a car for under $3000, which is 40 percent less than the least expensive sub-compact car available today. In addition to that announcement, [Tata Motors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/avinya), an Indian carmaker, claims that they plan to launch a $2500 car next year. **Implications** - Consumers are definitely not complaining about the rise of [cheaper cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/slate-pickup). People who were not able to afford a car in the past, may have a chance now. Roland Berger Strategy Consultants have stated that by 2012 "the market for vehicles priced under $10,000 is likely to reach 18 million cars." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 67% | Activity: 34% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Race for Cheap Cars:** Car companies are competing to build incredibly cheap cars, with vehicles being developed for under $3000 and even $2500. - **Affordable Vehicle Market:** There is a growing market for vehicles priced under $10,000, with the number expected to reach 18 million by 2012. - **Global Access to Personal Cars:** Affordable cars can help democratize the automobile industry and provide increased access to personal transportation around the world. ### Where This Applies - **Automotive Industry:** Car manufacturers have the opportunity to tap into a new market of consumers who previously were not able to afford a vehicle. - **Emerging Markets:** Emerging markets could especially benefit from the development of affordable cars, allowing more people to have access to personal transportation. - **Transportation Services:** As more people have access to affordable personal cars, there could be a shift away from traditional transportation services such as mass transit or ride-sharing companies. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Reduced Cost EV Models](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tesla-standard.md) - [Affordable EV Evolutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ev-platform.md) - [Affordable Compact EVs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2023-id.md) - [Affordable Two-Seater Electric Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ark-zero.md) - [Energy Efficient Flat-Packed Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/luvly-o.md) - [Strict Low-Emission EVs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/avinya.md) - [Smart Car Planning](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/budget-for-cars.md) - [Miniscule Electric SUVs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mini-suv.md) - [Compact Electric Microcars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/compact-electric-microcar.md)