Nah, it’s not simply mandating. Women, many women, consider a car as a fashion accessory... they look at the smaller car and think “it’s cute” and tend to buy them, even when they have the means to buy a larger vehicle.
Even without mandates this would be happening... and car makers know it. They know if they can get a women to think a small car is “cute” they will sell better.
Call me sexist all you want, that’s reality.
“they look at the smaller car and think “it’s cute”
Absolutely true to a point. A Mini Cooper is cute; “smart” cars look like death traps.
The fashion accessory goes both ways. A lot of guys think driving a big decked out pick up truck is manly. I found the larger the vehicle the less likely a woman was driving it. I used to drive a motorhome and got surprised looks when I stopped for gas.
“they look at the smaller car and think “it’s cute””
I see zillions of women in Coopers.