How big trucks and SUVs gobbled up the entire auto industry
- The auto industry has shifted significantly over time, with small cars being replaced by larger SUVs.
- In the author’s childhood, small trucks like Ford Rangers and Toyota Hilux were rare, but not unheard of.
- The rise of SUVs led to a decline in demand for smaller vehicles, resulting in many manufacturers discontinuing sedan production.
- Today, finding cars smaller than compact SUVs is becoming increasingly difficult, with Ford being one of the first major manufacturers to kill its sedan production.
- The shift towards larger SUVs has had a profound impact on the auto industry, leading to changes in consumer behavior and market trends.
How it started
When I was growing up in the Midwest, everyone I knew drove small cars. My dad had a light pink Volvo 240, my mom drove a Dodge Dart, and my grandmother had a 1988 Honda Accord – which would eventually become my first car. We lived in the suburbs, so almost no one drove a truck, but if they did it was something small like a Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux.
Over time, those small cars were replaced by SUVs of increasing size. Today, anyone searching for anything smaller than a compact SUV will probably come up dry. Ford killed its sedan production in North America a number of years ago. GM took a little longer, but eventually, w …
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Q. What was common among cars driven by people growing up in the Midwest?
A. Small cars.
Q. What color was my dad’s Volvo 240?
A. Light pink.
Q. Who drove a Dodge Dart?
A. My mom.
Q. What was my grandmother’s first car?
A. A 1988 Honda Accord, which eventually became my own car.
Q. Where did people typically live in the Midwest?
A. The suburbs.
Q. What type of trucks were common among people who did drive them in the Midwest?
A. Small ones like Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux.
Q. When did Ford stop producing sedans in North America?
A. A number of years ago (exact date not specified).
Q. How long did General Motors take to stop producing sedans in North America compared to Ford?
A. GM took a little longer than Ford.
Q. What is the current state of finding cars smaller than compact SUVs?
A. Anyone searching for anything smaller than a compact SUV will probably come up dry.
Q. Why are small cars no longer as common as they once were?
A. They have been replaced by SUVs of increasing size over time.