Supply Chain

Do Americans Actually Like Small Cars?

March 23, 2009

Interesting article in today's Wall Street Journal (click here to read) about the declining interest among U.S. consumers for small cars. Of course, these days there's a declining interest in just about anything that costs money, but stay with me on ...

Dave Blanchard Blog

Interesting article in today's Wall Street Journal (click here to read) about the declining interest among U.S. consumers for small cars. Of course, these days there's a declining interest in just about anything that costs money, but stay with me on this. The basic premise of the article is that in normal times, when given a choice between a small car and a large car, most Americans will opt for the large car.

The reasons are partly cultural (Americans love to stuff every square inch of their vehicles with both passengers and paraphernalia, as any parent of a school-age kid could tell you), partly geographic (those micro-sub-compacts may work just fine in island nations like the U.K., but those cross-country trips to Grandma's in the U.S. would wreak havoc on most spinal columns in subjected to driving with your knees in your chin for eight-hour stretches), and partly sociological (can't you be just as environmentally-conscious driving a Highlander Hybrid as a Prius?).

On the other hand, check out this IW news article about what a no-frills auto really looks like. If you want a brand-new car for only $2,000, and don't mind giving up things like automatic transmission, air conditioning and power windows, then the Tata Nano might just be what you're looking for.

About the Author

Dave Blanchard Blog | Senior Editor

Focus: Supply Chain

Email: [email protected]

Follow on Twitter @supplychainDave

Call: 216-931-9794

Contributing Editor Dave Blanchard provides the IndustryWeek audience his expertise in lean supply chain, reporting on topics from logistics, procurement and inventory management to warehousing and distribution. He also specializes in business finance news and analysis, writing on such topics as corporate finance and tax, cost management, governance, risk and compliance, and budgeting and reporting.

Dave is also the chief editor of Penton Media’s Business Finance and editorial director of Material Handling & Logistics.

With over 25 years of experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2010), and is a frequent speaker at industry events. Dave is an award-winning journalist and has been twice named one of the nation’s top columnists by the American Society of Business Publications Editors.

Dave received his B.A. in English from Northern Illinois University, and was a high school teacher prior to his joining the publishing industry. He is married and has two daughters.