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Keep On Truckin’

July 31, 2023 | Posted in: Insights

We are all generally aware of the shift toward SUVs and Trucks, but I believe the following graphics from Visual Capitalist are instructive.

Note that cars have fallen from 81% of production in 1975 to 44% today with Truck SUVs now representing the largest single category at 39%. While that trend could be alarming from a gas consumption standpoint, it has been offset somewhat by the significant improvement in efficiency since 1975. In particular, focus on the recent spike in mpg for the Car SUV and Minivan categories. Overall fuel economy for the U.S. fleet has risen from 12.1 mpg in 1975 to 25.4 currently and the administration recently proposed new standards that would require cars and light trucks to improve their efficiency through 2032 by 2% and 4% per year, respectively.