Cars have been an important part of human history. There’s no denying it.
When we think of cars, we usually think of comfort, convenience, maybe even status. A quick way to get from A to B. A symbol of personal success.
But what we often forget is this: the car has been one of the most powerful tools in human history. And it has shaped how we live, work, and move. It didn’t just change transportation. It changed the entire structure of society.
From how cities were designed, to how economies grew, to how far we could dream, cars drove progress.
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The Birth of the Automobile
The first gasoline-powered car was built by Karl Benz in 1885.
At the time, cars were more of a curiosity than a revolution. Before the car, the world was limited to where your feet or horse could take you.
But this changed in 1908 when Henry Ford introduced the Model T, the first mass produced automobile.
Model T production employed the use of Ford motor company’s moving assembly line. This revolutionary assembly line increased production, efficiency and brought down production cost.
Prices dropped to just 30% of what vehicles used to cost.
Suddenly, cars weren’t just for the wealthy. The middle class could now get behind the wheel. That one shift cracked the world wide open for humanity.
❝ I will build a motor car for the great multitude… It will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one – and enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God’s great open spaces. ❞
— Henry Ford
The Industrial revolution: Accelerated growth
The first industrial revolution was powered by steam and textiles. The second? By steel and wheels.
Cars didn’t just require rubber, glass, and oil. They demanded new industries, faster logistics, and more skilled workers. That demand created millions of jobs, and fast-tracked innovation in almost every sector. From roads and steel, to mining and manufacturing.
By 1925, Ford was producing over 10,000 cars a day.
In South Africa, Ford set up a plant in Port Elizabeth as early as 1924. By 2025, nine global car makers now manufacture vehicles or engines in SA. That’s not just jobs, it’s livelihoods. It’s opportunity. It’s mobility in more ways than one.
Cars became the backbone of economies and the blueprint for modern cities. Suburbs sprouted along highways. Commercial zones were established near transport hubs. Shops and service stations followed. The auto industry reshaped where, and how, we live.
The price of progress: A gift or a curse?
But not everyone has benefited equally.
In South Africa, only 1 in 5 adults own a car. For most, the cost of owning one simply doesn’t add up.
Let’s break it down:
- Average household income for car owners: R33,000/month
- Average personal income: R20,000/month
- For those buying new models (within 2 years): Household income jumps to R47,000+
Sounds decent… but the reality? There’s no disposable income left. And when life happens—job loss, illness, unexpected bills, there’s no safety net.
That’s why 5,000 to 7,000 cars get repossessed every month in South Africa.
It’s not just a financial issue, it’s emotional. Cars, once an enabler of freedom, are becoming financial traps. Banks sell dreams in the form of vehicle loans, but many end up in “upside-down loans”, where they owe more than the car is worth.
More cars get sold, cities become more congested, and stress piles up, not just on the roads and infrastructures, but on the collective mental and financial well-being.
Ownership is optional: The shift from Cars as properties to car as access
The world is changing. Cars aren’t just faster, they’re smarter. On-board computer, GPS, connectivity and now artificial intelligence. And people are getting smarter too.
We’re starting to realise that we don’t need to own a car to enjoy the freedom it provides. We only need access.
Ride-sharing like Uber and Bolt have made on-demand mobility accessible. And carsharing is giving South Africans a better way to move on their own terms, without long term financial risk.
It’s not a buzzword. It’s about maximizing asset better. Cutting the high cost of ownership. It’s not meant to replace car ownership, but rather to extend it.
Because today, if you own a car, you own a business. You have a vehicle, not just for transport, but for financial freedom and access. A way to help your community access mobility while growing your income.
The Road Ahead: This Matters More Than Ever
Carsharing isn’t just about making extra cash on the side. It’s an invitation to look from a different perspective.
If you’re feeling the stress of car payments with no breathing room financially, that’s a sign. You don’t have to drown in debt. It’s time to turn your car into a business.
And if you’re thinking about buying a new car, ask yourself: Do I need to own a car, or do I just need access to one?
Because there are better ways to get the freedom a car provides, without wrecking your finances.
“Access trumps ownership. People don’t want to own a car. They want the freedom a car provides.” — Robin Chase, Co-founder of Zipcar
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