Quote:
Originally Posted by madcorgi
I would not be surprised to see one of the Big Three go under, due to their move to trucks, especially if we have any kind of real or imagined oil shortage. Ford and Chevy are pretty much ending as car manufacturers who build trucks, and becoming truck manufacturers who build cars.
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I don't think they have intentionally moved to trucks as much as they have responded to supply and demand. People are buying trucks. The big three have offered a full line up of cars, but trucks are the big sellers. Either build trucks, or have a bunch of small cars sitting on the lot while customers go elsewhere.
A few decades ago, dad went to the car dealership and bought a vehicle that would haul the family and tow the boat to the lake cabin on weekends. It was called an "Impala" or "LTD", had a V-8 and a full-perimeter frame with towing capacity.
Today, dad goes to the car dealership and buys a vehicle capable of hauling the family and towing the boat to the lake cabin on weekends. It's now called "F-150" or "Silverado", and has a V-8 and full-perimeter frame with towing capacity.
Average cars today have unibody construction and front-wheel-drive. Fine for commuting to work and back, and a couple bags of groceries. Unless one has multiple vehicles, the trucks and SUVs are the ones that can cover all the needs.
Any business must have what people want to buy. The problem with automakers is the long time and expense required to change the lineup. If people quit buying trucks, they will be caught with their pants down. Again.
But if they weren't building trucks now, they would already be without their pants.