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I had a little Chevy S10 for many, many years. It was one of GM’s most popular vehicles for a long time. The smallest pickups on the market today are the same size as the full-sized pickups offered 30 years ago. I don’t want, or need, something so huge. I have an Equinox EV now, which is nice, but I definitely miss having a small pickup. If GM came out with a variant of the S10 again, and maybe with an electric version, I would jump on it.
The age of on the road cars is increasing because keeping the old cars running as long as possible is the wisest economic choice to make .
“One big change is that carmakers have largely abandoned entry-level vehicles in recent years.”
It’s expectation inflation.
You can’t buy a small car with a stick shift, manual windows, and no AC today…but that described my first new car 40+ years ago. Today’s average car has features that only luxury cars had 40 years ago.
This is exactly the same story as housing: No one is building 1100sf 3bed/1.5bath homes with one-car garages anymore. First time buyers today want 1800+ square feet, 3+ bedrooms, 2.5 baths, stainless steel appliances and stone countertops and tiled walk-in showers and 2 or 3 car garages. That was a move-up house for Boomers, not a first time buy.
Chinese automakers are building vehicles like this, and other countries are eating them up. High quality, affordable, electric vehicles that the US SHOULD be making. Unfortunately, half the country is either so afraid of change, or so deep in the oil industry’s pockets, that they’re willing to cede American automobile dominance to a foreign adversary.
American car companies can not make money manufacturing small fuel economy and medium sized cars.
Example: Ford stopped manufacturing their small fuel economy cars on the U.S. because of labor costs.
With the new contract that the UAW negotiated with the car companies, it will only get worse..
Also, with all the tariffs and pressuring U.S. car companies to drop manufacturing in Mexico, this will only get worse.
** Young consumers can not afford an expensive car payments and high rents together at the same time.
Only if the federal government provides national health insurance, as in the 33 other countries, will our young people be able to afford the cost of a new car. Car manufacturers would no longer have to cover employee health insurance, allowing them to lower car prices. This could trigger a butterfly effect, influencing the way our society functions.
Perhaps the love of big non-efficient vehicles is taking its toll.
Why is there no market for small efficient cars — not enough people bought them and profits are much greater with other larger vehicles. So all are free to purchase what they want; however, many live beyond their means and complain about costs, Vehicles do represent status symbols in this great nation and many succumb to trying to keep up with others even if they really cannot afford it,.
Derek C.
Correct,
U.S. Auto companies could NOT make enough money on small cars
and tariffs are taking a toll.
That’s why for example Ford dropped the Focus,
Tariffs combined with UAW wages have caused this.
Jay C.
+ 1