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I am mystified by this. We just returned from the Galapagos islands and I noticed that there is virtually only ONE style of vehicle. 4-door shortbed pickups, mostly white.
How do you think this comes about? Would the gov't somehow order a fleet and allow just this style onto the islands? I asked locals but heard nothing useful. Plus, they are not cheap---about 50 grand for the low-income locals, which is another mystery. They all looked new, too.
Yes, they are practical, but so are other models....thoughts?
Toyota Hi-lux is the to go to vehicle in all countries outside of the US, Canada, and Europe. Rugged and super dependable. Yes they are not cheap but they do last and that is why governments have them as their choice of fleet vehicles. And when the Government sells them, people probably buy them a lot cheaper than they can used. Just guessing though.
A place like the Galapagos is a small area where everything has to be shipped in. There might be restrictions on what type of vehicle is allowed there and that is why they are so expensive. It could also be a parts thing too. Would you want to drive the only F150 on the island and have to special order everything it might need or be able to use parts from the most abundant vehicle on the island?
No doubt there are contracts to be the sole provider of vehicles and why would say GM or Ford go after a contract where they get to sell a handful of cars per year?
Betcha they got a warehouse full of extra parts stashed somewhere on the island as well. I wouldn't wanna have that one rare vehicle that parts may be hard to come and nobody knows how to work on them either. The old adage it ai t broke don't fix it may apply there. They drive what they are comfortable with and make last a lifetime.
I found a report dating back to 2010 which indicated that the Galapolos had a moratorium on vehicles in order to limit their effects on the delicate and complex archipelago.
Well, it's kind of like Great Britain, where for many years the only model of vehicle seen was one parked by the side of the road with the hood up.
These are very small places with a minimum of roads of mostly indifferent condition. It's not a place to go drive your Maserati, smug about in a Prius or drive a pickup half the size of the island. Someone likely cornered the market with the narrow range of vehicle that actually suits needs and preference there. Simple enough.
It’s probably a practical vehicle for the area. Mid size crew cabs have been offered around the world for years before they were even remotely available in the States. And I know the Hilux is a very rugged vehicle
Tariffs probably play a pretty large part too. I have family in Brazil, the import tariffs there are 100% of the MSRP, meaning you pay double there for those vehicles. There are only a few vehicles actually produced in Brazil, most are small hatchback type vehicles with small engines, that are the dominant vehicles on the road there. I'm guessing the government has tariffs in place to discourage anyone from buying whatever vehicle they want there.
I found a report dating back to 2010 which indicated that the Galapolos had a moratorium on vehicles in order to limit their effects on the delicate and complex archipelago.
This chart shows most four wheel vehicles are pickup trucks but motorcycles are the most popular form of transport.
Very interesting.
Read it and there would be less speculation about the why's and wherefore's of the vehicles on the Galapagos Islands.
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