The American auto industry has missed the forecast on the two oil crunches of my lifetime: Carter oil crunch and the Bush oil crunch. Both times the Japanese were already marketing high mileage vehicles. In fact, IIRC, that oil crunch really put the Japanese auto makers on the map in the minds of many American consumers.
Did the foreign auto makers have higher mileage autos because they better forecasted the direction of oil? I don’t think so.
I think they had in their own economies so inflated the price of oil through taxation that they were already producing higher mileage vehicles because they were practical in their own countries, given their higher priced gasoline.
Nonetheless, I don’t like small cars. I think they’re uncomfortable, less useful for transport of multiple passengers/cargo, and less safe. I’m willing to pay a bit more for size and the comfort, utility, and safety that come with size.
American auto manufacturers will always do well to continue to improve the mileage of larger vehicles. They should focus like a laser beam on larger, high-mileage vehicles.
Who really wants to cram into an Aveo, anyway? Certainly not a family with 2+ kids.
And, of course, there is cost. American auto workers should decide now that it’s better to have their total package of pay, benefits, and retirement cut from incredible pay down to good/excellent pay. It’s better to have a good job with good pay than no job with no pay.
That's equivalent to saying they should concentrate on repealing the most basic laws of physics.
I bought a Civic. Good fuel economy, and an ideal size for me. Most of the time anyway - right now, I'm waiting to get into my apartment this weekend so it is jammed full of stuff.
I don't get this idea that it is a virtue to use more gas than you need. If you aren't carrying more than 4 passengers, an SUV is really quite wasteful. The government shouldn't prevent you from buying it, but they certainly shouldn't encourage or subsidize it.
Did the foreign auto makers have higher mileage autos because they better forecasted the direction of oil? I don’t think so.
Toyota didn't. Honda did. Their Civics (hybrids and otherwise) are selling like hotcakes.
Then again, I'm a little biased. A brand-new Civic has been the car I wanted since high school.