Automakers Without Small Cars in Peril
High gas prices are driving consumers to smaller, 4-cylinder cars and away from trucks and SUVs. The decade-long reign of the SUV for personal use may be over. Many believe this trend will be long lasting. Automakers that ignore the move to smaller cars do so at its own peril. This is bad news for Detroit’s automakers that put their eggs in the highly profitable fullsize truck and SUV market. Their import competitors have more numerous and popular entries in the lower end of the car market.