I guarantee if vehicles were properly regulated here, and the Big 3 here had to suffer actual consequences for their piss-poor choices, smaller cars would be a more popular choice.
Regulations have partly caused the car size problem. Manufacturers have gas mileage targets/requirements, but they’re scaled based on axle length. Essentially this means they can make small efficient cars, or big expensive cars.
Ford gave up all car production except for the Mustang, focusing on trucks and SUV’s. Since the late 70’s, the US auto industry has shown that it is unable to make small cars with low margins like other countries.
If the Big 3 suffered consequences, they would be the Bug 2 or the Big 1 by now.
Ford actually had the top selling cars with the Focus and Festiva, but the garbage transmissions basically drove that entire demographic to Honda and Toyota.
Since the late 70’s, the US auto industry has shown that it is unable to make small cars with low margins like other countries.
Oh they can they just don’t want to. GM, Ford, and Dodge have occasionally released small low margin vehicles but they either get discontinued or bloated and made more expensive, typically starting about 5 years in.
It ain’t just US Domestics either. How big is a 2025 Honda Accord vs a 1986 model?
If the Big 3 suffered consequences, they would be the Bug 2 or the Big 1 by now.
I’ve been arguing that same thing for over 20 years. Heck I was just doing it again over the weekend. There isn’t enough space in the US auto market for 3 Domestic Manufacturers anymore. They should have let Chrysler / Dodge die back in the '80s, the entire auto industry would be more healthy if they had.
I guarantee if vehicles were properly regulated here, and the Big 3 here had to suffer actual consequences for their piss-poor choices, smaller cars would be a more popular choice.
Regulations have partly caused the car size problem. Manufacturers have gas mileage targets/requirements, but they’re scaled based on axle length. Essentially this means they can make small efficient cars, or big expensive cars.
Properly regulated, i.e. closing up all the loopholes.
Ford gave up all car production except for the Mustang, focusing on trucks and SUV’s. Since the late 70’s, the US auto industry has shown that it is unable to make small cars with low margins like other countries.
If the Big 3 suffered consequences, they would be the Bug 2 or the Big 1 by now.
Ford actually had the top selling cars with the Focus and Festiva, but the garbage transmissions basically drove that entire demographic to Honda and Toyota.
Funny typo aside… I think that’s what should have happened. Let natural consequences follow poor business choices.
Oh they can they just don’t want to. GM, Ford, and Dodge have occasionally released small low margin vehicles but they either get discontinued or bloated and made more expensive, typically starting about 5 years in.
It ain’t just US Domestics either. How big is a 2025 Honda Accord vs a 1986 model?
I’ve been arguing that same thing for over 20 years. Heck I was just doing it again over the weekend. There isn’t enough space in the US auto market for 3 Domestic Manufacturers anymore. They should have let Chrysler / Dodge die back in the '80s, the entire auto industry would be more healthy if they had.
They kind of are the big 2 by now, I’m not sure Chrysler still counts