A Car for the Great Asian Multitude

Although the vehicles-to-population ratios of China and India are small when compared to Europe, Japan, and the United States, sales of cars and light trucks in the two countries have increased rapidly in recent years. This article documents the growth in the number of vehicles in China and India and compares the expansion of their vehicle fleets to the historical experiences of countries that achieved high levels of automobile ownership decades ago. The article notes some of the problems that are emerging as the extent of vehicle ownership in China and India begins to approach that of the developed countries: pressure on the world’s petroleum supplies, increased levels of carbon dioxide emissions, and a rising toll of automobile-related deaths and injuries. The article concludes with a discussion of some of the cultural and political issues that are accompanying mass motorization in China and India.