A Second Chance for Totaled Cars
- 11 years ago
Unwanted cars are imported from the United States and Europe, fixed-up, and sold in used car lots in countries like Afghanistan.
The US insurance companies might consider a car a total loss, but in other parts of the world that classification is considered more of an opinion.
Unwanted cars are imported from the United States and Europe, fixed-up, and sold in used car lots in places like Afghanistan where there are no car manufacturers.
Little attention is paid to aesthetics. The previous owner’s trash is mostly left in there unless it’s something culturally offensive like a liquor bottle.
Beyond the lingering memories of marketing once carried out by the automakers themselves, little is present that ups the appeal of the rides.
Then again, most Afghan customers are only interested in Toyota Corollas, so what would be the point.
It’s estimated that 90 percent of all cars on the road in Kabul are Corollas.
Age and mileage aren’t deterrents for their sale, but the presence of the number 39 on the license plate renders a car unsalable regardless of its make and model.
Exactly why is unknown but one guess is that because the number translates into a regional slang term for a pimp, and is considered a shameful disgrace.
The US insurance companies might consider a car a total loss, but in other parts of the world that classification is considered more of an opinion.
Unwanted cars are imported from the United States and Europe, fixed-up, and sold in used car lots in places like Afghanistan where there are no car manufacturers.
Little attention is paid to aesthetics. The previous owner’s trash is mostly left in there unless it’s something culturally offensive like a liquor bottle.
Beyond the lingering memories of marketing once carried out by the automakers themselves, little is present that ups the appeal of the rides.
Then again, most Afghan customers are only interested in Toyota Corollas, so what would be the point.
It’s estimated that 90 percent of all cars on the road in Kabul are Corollas.
Age and mileage aren’t deterrents for their sale, but the presence of the number 39 on the license plate renders a car unsalable regardless of its make and model.
Exactly why is unknown but one guess is that because the number translates into a regional slang term for a pimp, and is considered a shameful disgrace.