Economy, Not Fuel Prices Seen as Causing Market Shift to Smaller Cars

DEARBORN, MI – Rising gasoline prices are not to blame for the recent U.S. market shift away from pickups and SUVs toward more fuel-efficient small cars, a market analyst says.

Instead, Americans are downsizing because of overall economic uncertainty, and fuel economy remains well down the list of key features buyers look for when choosing one type or brand of vehicle over another, Alex Edwards, president-automotive of market-research firm Strategic Vision, says at an automotive ...