ಗುರುವಾರ, ಮಾರ್ಚ್ 31, 2011

Americans Don't Want Small Cars!

Today I heard part of an interview with the EPA administrator, Lisa Jackson, which made my blood boil. During the interview, she threw out the tired lie that American automakers are building too many "large vehicles which the American public do not want to buy" (approximate quote).

If the American people don't want to buy large vehicles, then why is it that the top selling vehicles in the U.S. are as follows?

Top 20 vehicles, Feb 2011
*Ford F - Series PU 37,549
*Chevrolet Silverado PU 31,728
^Toyota Camry / Solara 27,212
Toyota Corolla / Matrix 25,860
^Ford Fusion 23,111
^Honda Accord 21,206
^Nissan Altima 20,808

Honda Civic 19,121
Honda CR-V 19,096
^Chevrolet Malibu 19,092
*Dodge Ram PU 18,644
Chevrolet Cruze 18,556
Ford Escape 18,005
^Chevrolet Impala 16,290
^Hyundai Sonata 15,723

Chevrolet Equinox 15,434
Toyota Prius 13,539
Nissan Sentra 12,599
Volkswagen Jetta 12,591
Toyota RAV4 12,562
(courtesy WSJ.com)


Notice the * rows, which are large pickups. And notice the ^ rows, which are midsize or full size cars. 11 of the top 20 vehicles are midsized or large, and 8 of the top 10 are midsized or large.

Now explain this to me, if Americans don't really want to buy large cars, why aren't the top selling vehicles all small cars like the VW Jetta? Is someone twisting their arms into buying the F150's and the Impalas?

Obama and the EPA administrator need to drop the talking points. American's don't want tiny cars.