Detroit executives are killing off slow-selling cars in favor of SUVs

Are American auto makers once again going to be behind the curve when gas prices shoot up again? I assume someone in the executive suite has an ace up their sleeve this time. The canary in the coal mine will be GM bringing back Hummer. :-)<p>I dunno, “the market is going SUV and not looking back” makes me think they are once again being short-sighted. If nothing else, it means we won’t be getting much in the way of innovation from the U. S. makers.

I grew up in Detroit, and my whole family worked in the industry. My parents met working at GM, but now they refuse to buy GM after how former employees were screwed during the Old&#x2F;New GM transition. Add in the ignition switch debacle and they are untrustworthy.<p>Now add in the fact that many don&#x27;t want to buy SUVs (my grandmother can&#x27;t get into a SUV) and this is yet another silly short term play that will hurt them in the long run when fuel prices increase. My 2016 gasoline VW Golf wagon gets almost 40mpg highway - show me a SUV that can do that.<p>But hey, I can always continue to buy European cars, and I will. As much as I would love Detroit to succeed, they just can&#x27;t see more than 2 years in the future.

&gt; President Donald Trump’s vow to relax fuel economy rules could add momentum to the SUV and truck boom and invite General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. to pull the plug on some passenger cars.<p>Is there anything this administration won’t ruin for future generations?

Note: they&#x27;re not talking about the death of sedans in America—they&#x27;re just talking about the death of <i>sedans made by American car companies</i>. To the extent that the most popular sedans (Accord, Camry) are made by foreign car companies, this trend is somewhat less important.

I wonder if there&#x27;s more brand loyalty to American auto manufacturers in cities&#x2F;states where the roads are not well maintained. Thus their base naturally shifts towards SUVs as the ride quality of sedans comparatively degrades.