All Photos by Randy Stern
We pick up the story at the end of the 1970s…
By the mid-1970s, the SUV market shrank due to the loss of Land Rover and International Harvester. As the decade continued, the segment was stagnant as most customers did not take these vehicles as seriously as in those in certain parts of the country. Places, such as rural communities and in mountainous regions, were ripe for these vehicles to serve as primary transportation through any climatic condition.
There was an automotive development that would change the future of the SUV. Throughout the 1980s, the station wagon was under threat by a brand new transportation option – the minivan. Families figured out that you can have a vehicle that would seat seven, carry their stuff and park inside of a garage.
Meanwhile, another development began to shake up the automotive world. Continue reading
Commentary: A New Argument for Diesel
Photo by Randy Stern
In 2007, I wrote a commentary on this blog exploring the notion of expanding diesel engines in this country. Some changes were made, but there is still stagnation in terms of market growth.
Recently, Automotive News had their own commentary comparing diesel sales in Europe in comparison to the USA. While they state that passenger car diesel sales are running around 50% across the pond, USA sales were quoted at 1%. I wished I had access to complete sales figures to show whether this is correct or not, but I seriously doubt the 1% figure is indeed true.
Since 2007, diesel fueled offerings had expanded. It was not a huge expansion, but it showed that certain brands and auto makers are willing to invest in offering products with diesel engines. Continue reading →