As we go from country to country many things change, like the lifestyle, the way people interact within the society, the way the consumer market operates, and lots of other similar things. One very big difference I have seen in Zambia and USA is in the way Cars are bought and sold on the market of these countries.
First of all there are several similarities between the ways cars are bought and sold in Zambia and USA. One very big similarity is that both countries sell a wide range of cars to satisfy the needs and desires of the consumer market. They are advertised in many similar forms. Some types of advertising used are the television, radio, newspapers, magazines, Internet, billboards, and so on. There is a great percentage of the public in both countries that purchases cars from Used Car dealers. Both countries have a big network of used car dealerships.
Zambian rural village. Women smallholders
The provinces of Zambia
United StatesLastly one of the similarities between the American and Zambian market are the sales of import cars. In both countries Japanese cars have the greatest percentage of the sales and popularity.
Second of all there are many more contrasts in the way the car market of USA and Zambia operates. One of the largest contrasts is that USA sells a greater volume of cars than Zambia does, mainly due to the affordability of consumers. Furthermore, USA sells more locally produced cars than imported cars, whereas Zambia does not even have a car industry; therefore, all cars sold in Zambia are imported cars. Most of the used cars are in Zambia are also imported. One again the used cars that are sold in Zambia are reconditioned and in USA they are just resold in the condition it is in (this is the case most of the times). Another contrast between the cars in these markets is that Zambia only sells cars with a manual transmission; moreover, the cars are right hand driven. This is not the case in USA as most of the cars sold in this country have an automatic transmission and are left hand driven. USA provides a lot of privileges and services to consumers of cars. One of the privileges that the American industry provides to its consumers is that to pay the car payments in installments and to get loans to make payments. Another privilege provided is that the consumer is able to lease a car and then change it after a period of time or to buy it. The final service or security provided is the warranty on most of the cars bought buy the consumer. Zambia does not provide all of these privileges and services to the customer. Lastly since Zambia is a third world country it has a very bad infrastructure and transportation facility for cars and so they are designed slightly different to handle more rough usage. In USA cars are designed in a little more luxurious manner.
In general USA and Zambia have more contrasts in the way cars are sold on the market and the privileges and services provided. Although the difference in the infrastructure in the economies and consumer markets there are still some similarities between the two countries.
United States
Zambia