Why Do American Cars Stick to Analog? Exploring the Logic Behind the Choice

In the Digital Age, Cars Are No Exception
But What About American Cars?

In our everyday lives, everything is becoming digitized. We have now reached a point where we can manage almost everything in our daily lives with just a smartphone. Even cars are now managed and checked through software that syncs with our smartphones.

Many recently released cars are ditching the old analog system and are equipped with large touch displays and advanced features, offering a lot of convenience and functionality. However, there are still countries where cars have more analog options than digital ones, and the United States is one of them.

The Rugged American Car: Why They Prefer Analog

Companies like Jeep and Ford, which manufacture off-road trucks and SUVs in the U.S., are particularly noticeable in their preference for analog. They insist on analog on everything from the car key to the side mirror, air conditioning, and center console buttons. Of course, most models now come equipped with digital displays and electric side mirrors.

So why do we often see analog features in American cars? The reasons include the limitations of repair and maintenance due to the vast territory and the fact that outside of urban or residential areas, there is a higher proportion of rugged and remote regions where digital options become useless.

In Vast Territories and Mountains, Digital Equipment Becomes Useless

This is similar to why the tuning culture has developed in the U.S. When a car breaks down or needs a part replaced, many people buy and fix the parts themselves. Because large-scale natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires are common, Americans living in remote areas often do not prefer digitized cars.

However, they are not entirely rejecting recent trends. As electric cars become more popular and car performance improves, the interior options also emphasize convenience more than before. With the importation of vehicles from various countries into the U.S., they have realized that the rugged analog options alone are insufficient to make their cars attractive.

Other Countries May Not Prefer It, But A Balance Between Analog and Digital is Needed

The abovementioned reasons are often cited as why American cars have not succeeded in the Korean market. Due to cultural and geographical differences, domestic consumers do not prefer the rugged and inconvenient analog options.

However, recently, some have found excessive digitization uncomfortable and are choosing American cars to feel the ‘sentiment’ without adding electric or digital options. While it is inevitable that development will heavily lean towards digital or analog, we have entered an era where balanced development is most needed.