Dec. 5 at 6:45 PM
Americans don’t want tiny cars any more than they want EVs. After rolling back strict fuel-efficiency standards, Donald Trump floated the idea that U.S. manufacturers could build ultra-small, low-cost vehicles similar to those he saw in Asia. But history suggests that won’t happen: Americans simply don’t buy them. The Smart Car sold only about 95,000 units in more than a decade, and Volkswagen discontinued the Beetle due to weak demand. By contrast, Ford’s F-Series trucks continue to dominate with hundreds of thousands sold each year.
EVs briefly reached about 10% of sales before losing their
$7,500 tax credit, and industry leaders expect that share to fall. But EVs are still mostly luxury products—while tiny cars would sit at the economy end. The real issue is preference and purchasing power: Americans consistently choose larger, more comfortable vehicles, and the market reflects that.
$VWAGY $F