A big part of it is the lack of sanely sized options, which is driven by a combination of confirmation bias (“the best sellers are all giant SUVs” when the only real options are giant SUVs), low gas prices, and incentives to manufacturers by classifying vehicles as trucks to get around emissions rules.
We could undo a lot of it if we taxed and regulated giant SUVs and trucks the same way we do smaller cars, but that hits the profits of big auto and would be politically disadvantageous for anyone to try so they don’t.
I don’t get this, like they still make sedans. Go to a toyota or honda dealership and there are still plenty of small affordable efficient cars.
I agree we should definitely tax them but that’ll only go so far. Even if we tax them people have shown there willing to spend a lot more money for an suv . People view them as a status symbol and cultural signifier and will pay a lot since a part of there identity is based off it.
Strict regulation making it so a majority of people just can’t buy one would be the only way, but thats unpopular and fox News would have a field day about “the liberals are coming for your truck”
Many sedans in the US are quite a bit larger than their global counterparts. That also assumes that all sedans are somewhat fungible which also isn’t true. It’s common for foreign manufacturers to only introduce longer wheelbase versions of vehicles in the US but offer shorter wheelbases in Europe and Asia, thus includes sedans and coupes, but also minivans and trucks. I’d be somewhat interested in a VW id.Buzz, but aside from software issues they only offer the larger variant in the States which won’t even fit in my garage. Even the somewhat normal sized Ioniq 6 we got is way wider and longer than we’d ideally like, but there are no other options to get something in a saner size on Hyundai/Kias eGMP platform which has tons of benefits (higher voltage packs for faster charging, solid and relatively affordable technology options, and full V2L capabilities).
@Not_mikey@Wxfisch Go to a Toyota or Honda dealership and you’ll find that longstanding models like the Civic and Corolla are much larger and less affordable than they were at the peak of their popularity. Ford no longer makes sedans and GM makes few. All the car companies aggressively market trucks and SUVs to the exclusion of sedans and hatchbacks. That’s not because consumers decided they wanted “status symbols,” it’s because SUVs & trucks have higher profit margins.
@Not_mikey@Wxfisch I know unfortunately many people who own mid-sized SUVs. No one I choose to associate with has one a status symbol. They’re motivated by lack of smaller options (particularly for parents who need to fit multiple car seats in a vehicle) and fear of them or their kids being injured by other drivers in comically oversized vehicles.
@Not_mikey@Wxfisch Yes, the average consumer is quite susceptible to marketing and follows trends in everything from clothes to food & drink to toothbrushes. Many will look around at their peers and try to “keep up with the Joneses”. Rather than evidence that car companies are simply responding to consumer demand, that shows they’re creating the demand that most benefits their bottom line and looser regulation on vehicles classified as light trucks is a big part of why they market what they do.
Also driven primarily by the C.A.F.E. act of 1992-1993. That’s why the cars in the 90s started getting bigger, and continued to get bigger. So now, like you said, small options aren’t available, or are outright outlawed like kei cars and trucks.
Corporate Average Fuel Economy, sets emissions limits based on vehicle size. Bigger car = lower standards. So rather than make more efficient engines we just make bigger cars and market the hell out of them until Americans think they need a Canyonero.
A big part of it is the lack of sanely sized options, which is driven by a combination of confirmation bias (“the best sellers are all giant SUVs” when the only real options are giant SUVs), low gas prices, and incentives to manufacturers by classifying vehicles as trucks to get around emissions rules. We could undo a lot of it if we taxed and regulated giant SUVs and trucks the same way we do smaller cars, but that hits the profits of big auto and would be politically disadvantageous for anyone to try so they don’t.
^^This.
I would have much rather purchased an EV coupe. It’s useless for me to haul around 5 seats. I rarely have more than one ass in the car at a time.
I don’t get this, like they still make sedans. Go to a toyota or honda dealership and there are still plenty of small affordable efficient cars.
I agree we should definitely tax them but that’ll only go so far. Even if we tax them people have shown there willing to spend a lot more money for an suv . People view them as a status symbol and cultural signifier and will pay a lot since a part of there identity is based off it.
Strict regulation making it so a majority of people just can’t buy one would be the only way, but thats unpopular and fox News would have a field day about “the liberals are coming for your truck”
Many sedans in the US are quite a bit larger than their global counterparts. That also assumes that all sedans are somewhat fungible which also isn’t true. It’s common for foreign manufacturers to only introduce longer wheelbase versions of vehicles in the US but offer shorter wheelbases in Europe and Asia, thus includes sedans and coupes, but also minivans and trucks. I’d be somewhat interested in a VW id.Buzz, but aside from software issues they only offer the larger variant in the States which won’t even fit in my garage. Even the somewhat normal sized Ioniq 6 we got is way wider and longer than we’d ideally like, but there are no other options to get something in a saner size on Hyundai/Kias eGMP platform which has tons of benefits (higher voltage packs for faster charging, solid and relatively affordable technology options, and full V2L capabilities).
@Not_mikey @Wxfisch Go to a Toyota or Honda dealership and you’ll find that longstanding models like the Civic and Corolla are much larger and less affordable than they were at the peak of their popularity. Ford no longer makes sedans and GM makes few. All the car companies aggressively market trucks and SUVs to the exclusion of sedans and hatchbacks. That’s not because consumers decided they wanted “status symbols,” it’s because SUVs & trucks have higher profit margins.
@Not_mikey @Wxfisch I know unfortunately many people who own mid-sized SUVs. No one I choose to associate with has one a status symbol. They’re motivated by lack of smaller options (particularly for parents who need to fit multiple car seats in a vehicle) and fear of them or their kids being injured by other drivers in comically oversized vehicles.
@Not_mikey @Wxfisch Yes, the average consumer is quite susceptible to marketing and follows trends in everything from clothes to food & drink to toothbrushes. Many will look around at their peers and try to “keep up with the Joneses”. Rather than evidence that car companies are simply responding to consumer demand, that shows they’re creating the demand that most benefits their bottom line and looser regulation on vehicles classified as light trucks is a big part of why they market what they do.
Also driven primarily by the C.A.F.E. act of 1992-1993. That’s why the cars in the 90s started getting bigger, and continued to get bigger. So now, like you said, small options aren’t available, or are outright outlawed like kei cars and trucks.
Non-american here, can you give a rundown of what that CAFE act was about?
Corporate Average Fuel Economy, sets emissions limits based on vehicle size. Bigger car = lower standards. So rather than make more efficient engines we just make bigger cars and market the hell out of them until Americans think they need a Canyonero.