Repelled by high car prices, Americans are holding on to their vehicles longer than ever

Americans are keeping their cars longer than ever. The average age of a passenger vehicle on the road hit a record 12.5 years this year, according to data gathered by S&P Global Mobility. Sedans like Holdsworth’s are even older, on average — 13.6 years. Blame it mainly on the pandemic, which in 2020 triggered a global shortage of automotive computer chips, the vital component that runs everything from radios to gas pedals to transmissions. The shortage drastically slowed global assembly lines, making new vehicles scarce on dealer lots just when consumers were increasingly eager to buy.

tips

repel：抵制；使厌恶；击退

vehicle：交通工具；车辆

blame：归咎于；责备

automotive：汽车的（motive 动机；目的；基调）

vital：重要的；充满活力的；致命的；生命的（vitamin 维生素）

gas：气体；汽油

pedal：踏板

transmission：传输；变速器

drastically：激烈地；彻底地（drastic 激烈的；严厉的；极度的）

assembly：装配；集会（assemble 集合；收集；装配）

a car assembly plant：汽车装配厂

assembly line：流水线

an assembly of reporters：一次记者会

scarce：难得的；稀罕的；缺乏的（scare 惊吓 🙀；恐慌）

dealer：经销商

eager：渴望的；热切的