Indeed. Obsolescence does occur with cars -- just like most consumer items -- but it's either: - technical or functional obsolescence (eg. no rearview backup c

Indeed. Obsolescence does occur with cars -- just like most consumer items -- but it's either: - technical or functional obsolescence (eg. no rearview backup camera, carburetors replaced with fuel injection), or - style obsolescence (eg. station wagons, quirky headlamps) because styling is a subjective fashion statement. While this is arguably a sub-type of planned obsolescence, it affects every single object that has visual presence, from clothes to smartphones to household appliances. The kind of 'intentionally crippled engineering designed to fail after the warranty period' the author proposes does not exist, because new cars are perfectly capable of getting themselves sold on their merits, and not because all old cars have been intentionally crippled. In fact, selling secondhand cars is quite often profitable, while selling new cars, outside of the luxury/SUV segment, has notoriously low margins.