"I have long thought that the higher CAFE had the INTENDED consequence of making it harder for Joe Siz Pack to own a pickup truck. With a truck, you can do crazy things, like start a small (non-union/non crony capitalism) business....and in general have way too much independence."
I wonder if there is a way to get around this by using "Kit" cars. In the same way that Scaled Composites got around the FAA's punitive restrictions on light aircraft manufacturers by selling the VariEze as a kit. The car companies sell an engine, 4wd transmission, bolt together body panels and a frame in separate easy to assemble in a garage crates. It isn't a "Car" so it doesn't count against their mileage standards.
Most guys who need 4wd vehicles for a business have some basic mechanical skills, or at least have some friends who do.
I wonder if there is a way to get around this by using "Kit" cars. In the same way that Scaled Composites got around the FAA's punitive restrictions on light aircraft manufacturers by selling the VariEze as a kit. The car companies sell an engine, 4wd transmission, bolt together body panels and a frame in separate easy to assemble in a garage crates. It isn't a "Car" so it doesn't count against their mileage standards.The regulatory 'fix' for that eventuality is already a part of the firearms business. The governmnent simply treats key parts like upper receivers & bolts as if they were complete firearms. I know. I've represented a company that makes parts for Remmington and H&K. They have to jump through all the hoops that their customers do.
The car companies sell an engine, 4wd transmission, bolt together body panels and a frame in separate easy to assemble in a garage crates. It isn't a "Car" so it doesn't count against their mileage standards.
Sounds like the way Superformance (of South Africa, IIRC) does business. They ship incomplete cars which lack only engines, transmissions and radiators. You roll it out of the crate and into your garage and drop in the powertrain of your choice. The cars are otherwise finished - the paint is done, the brakes are bled, the upholstery and carpet are in. Currently, their products are of a certain type:
However, I could see a more utilitarian vehicle offered in the same way.
Of course, if the kit-car trend ever made a significant dent in the U.S. vehicle market, there would be a barrage of legislation aimed at killing it. You know... airbags, door crash beams, that sort of stuff. Just one or two items off of the long list of federally-required new-car safety features would be all it would take.