When was the last time you worked on a new car that came equipped with a stock lighter and ashtray? If you’re anything like me, you don’t even know. That’s because automakers started to silently phase them out sometime in the mid 90’s. By the 2000’s, most cars only offered them as optional features. Today, many cars don’t even do that.
In the course of researching why that is, I came across two articles that are definitely worth a read.
In November of 2000, The Nevada Daily Mail published an article titled “Automakers Drop Ashtrays, Lighters from New Cars” that explained the disappearance of these one-time automotive staples on a change in consumer demands.
Honda and other manufacturers are designing ashtrays and lighters out of many new models, both to please consumers and cut costs. […]
“You respond to consumer demand,” said Art Garner, a spokesman for American Honda Motor Col, the Torrance, Calif., subsidiary of the Japanese manufacturer. “Consumers say, ‘I don’t need an ashtray. What I would like is a little storage place here. I don’t need a lighter. What I would like is a place to plug in my cell phone.’”
Eliminating lighters and ashtrays as standard equipment on millions of cars also saves money for automakers, most who now sell optional “smoker’s packages” for $15 to $100 for items once included with every new car. […]
The changes reflect a continuing evolution in dashboards and interiors, said Jeffrey Rose, vice president of technology at Textron Automotive Co., a Troy, Mich., company that is one of the leading providers of interior components for new cars.
Travelers in the 1950s and ‘60s were never far from an ashtray – many cars came with both lighters and ashtrays fitted into every door. But that was before the arrival of multiple cup holders and storage spaces, switches for power windows and door locks, outlets for cell phones and amenities like garage-door openers fitted into sun visors.
Australia’s The Daily Telegraph, however, attributes the disappearance of cabin lighters and ashtrays to a better social and legal understanding of the health risks associated with smoking, as well as a clamp down on distracted driving. In a 2007 article titled “No Ash Therefore No Tray“, the newspaper reported:
The phasing out of cigarette lighters and ashtrays is expected to pick up pace as rules tighten around the world on smoking while driving.
Since the introduction of Queensland’s smokefree workplaces in 2002, there has been a ban on smoking in work vehicles when more than one person is present.
In July, Health Minister Stephen Robertson foreshadowed a prohibition on smoking in cars carrying children during the review of tobacco legislation expected to start soon.
But Queensland is not alone in a clamp down on smoke-driving.
Earlier this month, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill to come into effect in January banning anyone smoking in a car with a person under the age of 18 present. The fine is $US200.
Cyprus and three other US states have similar bans, while several countries including Ireland and South Africa plan to introduce the smokefree cars with children reform.
South Australia implemented a ban on smoke-driving while children are present in May and since then, police have issued 29 on-the-spot fines and 11 cautions.
Tasmania will introduce the ban in January and NSW has flagged smoke-free cars carrying children as the next area of reform. But the issue is not just a matter of health.
Last month, the new UK Highway Code declared offenders could be charged with driving without due care and attention and New Delhi has a total ban on smoking while driving as a road safety driver-distraction issue.
Personally, I like the fact that cars no longer come equipped with lighters and ashtrays. With all that we know about the dangers of second-hand smoke, I find it irresponsible of folks to smoke in cars that carry passengers who don’t.
There is one major downside though: without ashtrays, I often find myself having to leave screws and clips on a car’s floor where they either get lost or stepped on.
Naseem Muaddi says
April 28, 2012 at 9:02 pmGreat article Nadeem, I hadn’t given ashtrays much thought until I read this. Thanks
Nadeem says
April 29, 2012 at 1:23 pmThanks. Another important downside to smoking while driving that neither article mentioned is reduced resale value.
Lynr says
August 15, 2018 at 12:23 amPut the ashtrays back in cars!
How times do I see someone toss
A burning butt? Unfortunately,
too often. Too many drivers without
Common sense to remove the ashtrays!
in CA!
1208bug says
May 1, 2012 at 7:49 pmGood idea-cut costs and let buyers make their own choices.Wanna talk about distractions, how about kids in the car!Not to mention audio systems, GPS, and fiddling around with that drive-thru piping hot coffee in the cup holder.(What a distraction when spilled in the lap!) Oh yeah, about that second hand smoke.Let’s be clear on what that “new car smell” is all about in four words,toxic carcinogenic off gassing.(see Vinyl chloride.com,for starters)Maybe it’s safest for all if we sit in metal seats on the public transportation?
John says
May 10, 2012 at 8:13 amFunny how they say cut costs, when they are adding back up cameras, gps, and other more expensive options as standard! I’m sure an air bag cost more than a ashtray or lighter.
A says
September 21, 2018 at 4:50 amSo ashtrays on your door is more important than air bags along with the other items you mentioned. You got your priorities screwed up. They obviously cut prices by getting rid of something that has no meaningful use
Tara says
August 22, 2012 at 10:24 pmHere in Canada we still have those options….not that i am a smoker but the ashtray keeps my change.
frozen-stitches says
January 28, 2013 at 4:50 pmMy 04 audi came with an ashtray and lighter standard
Ed says
May 9, 2013 at 3:57 pmMy 2010 Mercedes also came with both. I hate to say “nanny state” but we all know govmt knows what’s best for us. Won’t be long until we won’t be able to think for ourselves!
Karen says
April 19, 2017 at 4:10 amI’ve been saying the exact words for years.
Mitch says
May 29, 2018 at 10:12 amIt’s an infringement on my rights as an American to prohibit me from smoking in or on my own property. Bad move Arnold and shame on any state to follow in ca’ s footsteps.
Bri says
September 21, 2018 at 4:56 amSo you have a right to smoke around someone who chooses not to fill their lungs up with smoke? Do you know a non smoker is just as likely to get cancer from a smoker? Duh wtf is wrong with you.? YOU DONT HAVE THE RIGHT TO PUT SOMEONES LIFE IN DANGER. That should be considered murder or attempted murder. PEOPLE DIE FROM CIGARETTES DUMMY
Joh says
April 19, 2013 at 9:15 amI have to wonder about smoking in cars, having driven a work colleague’s – who was a smoker – car which overall smelt like an ashtray, or what a pub here in NZ was like prior to the public bar smoking ban here.
As for cars not catering for smokers, my 2005 Mitsubishi 380 (an Australian version of the 9th gen Mitsubishi Galant) does not have any ashtray, nor is there provision for them (apart from if a cupholder was used). There is no cigarette lighter, a 12v power outlet is used instead.
Erin says
May 8, 2014 at 3:57 pmAs an environmentalist, I lament the loss of ashtrays in cars because it encourages smokers to toss their butts out the window.
Cigarette filters are made from thousands of plastic fibers smushed together. This means that all the nasty chemicals in the cigarette get absorbed into the fibers, then leech into the ground and our water supply once they are discarded as litter. Fish and other wildlife eat these little tiny fibers unwittingly, and the chemicals get in to their systems- then we eat the fish. Yeah, ew. No. (The same problem occurs with plastic microbeads in facial scrubs. These tiny plastic fibers, whether they come from degrading plastic bags or cigarettes or what have you, are hard to filter out in water treatment plants. They resemble the food of small fish, which are eaten by larger fish, which are eaten by us.)
K-dog says
May 9, 2014 at 8:53 pmI’m an environmentalist myself and work in the Environmental Health field. Not only can the wildlife choke on these butts, but the butts that people toss out their windows are rinsed off the roads by each rain event through storm sewers then to creeks,streams and lakes where people (kids) swim. All those chemicals right into the waterways.
Kal says
September 21, 2018 at 4:59 amSo what happens when people who put all their butts in their ashtray and dumps the whole ashtray in the street? Seen it many times.kal
Philip Seal says
April 5, 2015 at 11:54 amGet rid of ashtrays, butts go out window, Fires start along the highways, chemicals put on cigarettes to make them go out. People think.
Jake says
May 5, 2015 at 2:08 pmFor every time a car is sold new or used that does not have a built in ash tray the government should asses a fee/tax of $50 to help pay for picking up the cigarette litter.
Kal says
September 21, 2018 at 5:01 amStill pointless if idiots dump their butt filled ashtrays in the street. It happens
Ron says
July 30, 2015 at 12:59 pmI saw a classic Cadillac (1948) at the car repair shop. It had 6 (six) ashtrays, with lighters for each of them. And this car also had a full bar in what otherwise would have been a very large glove compartment. People who could afford those cars were expected to be smoking and sometimes also drinking. It must have been a more civilized time.
Blodgett says
September 5, 2018 at 11:24 pmNow everyone gets Offended
Harry says
August 2, 2015 at 11:19 amonce around the country trip without an ashtray. great trip. flicked hundreds of butts out the window, seems that fires followed us all the way up the California Coast. I wonder why? Socially acceptable to remove ashtrays for your health. hope its worth the pollution caused my forest fires. LOL
Harry says
August 2, 2015 at 11:21 amShoul say, “caused BY forest fires”
Ann says
September 2, 2015 at 3:05 pmWhat specific plastic were the car ashtrays made from
jake says
December 3, 2015 at 10:09 pmThe car manufacturers decided that we need more people throwing cigarettes on the road at intersections.
Stan says
April 18, 2017 at 1:07 amIf you think about it the insurance companies had something to do with it. If you smoked your rates were higher. So they took the ashtrays out because it was a distraction while you were driving.But they
Left the lighter plug there so you could keep your phone plugged in. Now ask your self! Which is the bigger distraction!!!!
LH says
August 16, 2017 at 1:54 amI agree that cars should have ashtrays to avoid butts out the winsow
I still wonder why smokers think it is acceptable to litter with their butts. They should put something like a soda can in the cup holder to hold ashes and butts.
Nf says
November 23, 2017 at 3:24 amVery well said. I’m a smoker and removing ashtrays in cars hasn’t made me quite.
I’m 50 years old and can take care of my health and the choices associated with it. Not having ashtrays in car make smoker thow their butts out the window which is too me far worst because of wildfire and the environment.
Trevor says
January 25, 2019 at 9:39 amProbably why there have been so may wildfires out west in the past few years.
joey says
December 11, 2017 at 1:11 pmbring back the ashtrays how the fuck else do you hide change lol
Nikki says
January 2, 2018 at 7:23 amThe fact that not every driver is a smoker makes it quite right to phase these stuff out. Thanks for sharing the post!
realcigmuncher says
January 24, 2018 at 6:37 pmi love eating cellulose filters, and the cigarette itself.
Mel H says
January 24, 2018 at 7:18 pmI see SO many cigarette butts on the ground these days, including in parking lots. I live where it gets real windy, so those dropped butts probably were all dropped in the last 24 hours. The other day I saw someone in a car in a parking lot drop a butt out her window, and to me that’s not much different than dropping a candy or burger wrapper out the window. When she got out, I saw it was a store employee! I complained to store management and heard back that’s she’s going to buy a cigarette holder for her car. What is it with smokers that they think just dropping a butt on the ground is okay?!?!?
tim says
April 30, 2018 at 9:09 amEspecially if ya live where the salt has damaged a gas tank or line not such a good idea or even living in a state where gaskets have gone bad think it’s all flammable insurances will lose more customers then gaining especially if they pass no smoking for a driver
tim says
April 30, 2018 at 9:12 amNot to mention people’s lives hello an lots of them not everyone can afford to be chauffeured around
Do what? says
September 21, 2018 at 5:09 amWhat are you talking about? What does salt, gas tanks, bad gaskets have to do with ashtrays in a car???