Few trends have been worse for the environment, people's health, or public safety than the dramatic growth of the SUV market in recent decades.
But the dominance of SUVs on American roads is a relatively new phenomenon. In 1980, SUVs made up less than 2% of new car production in America; last year, that number was closer to 50%.
According to automakers, changing consumer preferences explain the growth of the SUV market.
But this story overlooks the crucial role that automakers played in shaping those consumer preferences.
This is the story of how American vehicles got supersized.
Sources: https://www.distilled.earth/p/the-loophole-that-made-cars-in-america
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