To understand the change, you need to start in the 1970s, when the “SUV loophole,” as policy nerds call it, was created.
I hate that the framing of this is just "nerds"
US lawmakers were writing the nation’s first auto pollution rules, at a time when the only people driving heavy vehicles like trucks were folks who had things to haul or real reasons to drive off-road. Farmers and construction workers and such. Who else would shell out to buy and fuel such a big set of wheels? It made sense to place trucks under more lenient fuel-efficiency rules than for cars.
Does it make sense though? It's a blatant corporate subsidy because the only ones who benefit are auto companies and large corporate customers
yes but SMB tyrants get fucked by the big corpos too. the corpos sell the idea that any regulation will impact SMBs to sway public opinion but the narrative is usually false. the message has purchase in the US because so many people seem to envision themselves as a potential boss first and as a worker second.
They actually did that because the domestic vehicle manufacturers couldn't compete with Japanese light trucks so they just banned japanese trucks and let the domestic manufacturers do whatever.
I hate that the framing of this is just "nerds"
Does it make sense though? It's a blatant corporate subsidy because the only ones who benefit are auto companies and large corporate customers
also small business tyrants
yes but SMB tyrants get fucked by the big corpos too. the corpos sell the idea that any regulation will impact SMBs to sway public opinion but the narrative is usually false. the message has purchase in the US because so many people seem to envision themselves as a potential boss first and as a worker second.
Dealerships are some of the biggest lobbyists on the state level tho.
They actually did that because the domestic vehicle manufacturers couldn't compete with Japanese light trucks so they just banned japanese trucks and let the domestic manufacturers do whatever.
Chicken tax