Detroit didn't (and still doesn't) market its smaller vehicles effectively. Even now, if we have the TV on, at least 60% of the commercials are for gas-hog SUVs and monster pickups; I rarely see one for a smaller fuel-efficient vehicle, and when I do, it's probably a Toyota or Honda. Also, the last few times that I was shopping for a car at a dealership, the salesdroids were pushing REALLY HARD to get me to look at an SUV, even after I said that wasn't what I wanted.
Another piece of the equation: "trucks" (a category which includes SUVs, and even my Montana minivan) get a lot of regulatory breaks vs. passenger cars, which makes them cheaper to manufacture, hence more profitable. (Source: Russ, who spent nearly 20 years in the industry.) Nobody was ever willing to level the playing field by separating working trucks from luxury trucks and making the latter subject to passenger-car regulations.
It's not entirely fair to blame the consumer when the consumer was having SUVs and monster pickups pushed down their throats at every turn.
no subject
Another piece of the equation: "trucks" (a category which includes SUVs, and even my Montana minivan) get a lot of regulatory breaks vs. passenger cars, which makes them cheaper to manufacture, hence more profitable. (Source: Russ, who spent nearly 20 years in the industry.) Nobody was ever willing to level the playing field by separating working trucks from luxury trucks and making the latter subject to passenger-car regulations.
It's not entirely fair to blame the consumer when the consumer was having SUVs and monster pickups pushed down their throats at every turn.
(edited to fix typo)