Dan Szwarc wrote:
Luxury sedan sales are dead. Is that better?
Dead doesn’t mean zero. It does mean that they are no longer a significant portion of sales.
SUVs and trucks have taken over, like it or not. The numbers speak for themselves.
I actually like it. I have a loaded Navigator and made the transition from personal luxury COUPE (ala Mark series) to big SUV.
I don't have research, and my opinion the US market moved to SUVs has several factors
At one time the US CAFE standards only applied to 6000 GVWR vehicles and less. To skirt less fuel efficient vehicles car companies built SUVs (and trucks) that had greater weight ratings.
The average American is bigger. The doors on a coupe do not work for rear seat passengers. And smaller four door vehicles have small doors. It is far easier to enter and exit a SUV. And for the price a SUV hits the market.
To some extend there is better forward visibility
And a large vehicle may make a statement versus a lower riding car.
SUVs and trucks have taken over the US market and the US market only. Full sized pick up trucks and SUVs are not really found outside of North America.
And the sedan market in the US is dominated by foreign vehicle manufacturers. Luxury sedans as well. (Mercedes, Lexus, BMW and Audi)
The interesting thing about SUVs is foreign built SUVs do not sell as well against domestic SUVs. The reverse is true of sedans.
>>>>>>>>Action