[PaulHoule]

Detroit won the freedom to eliminate small gas cars from their product line in exchange for investing in electric vehicles which might be bad in the short term.

I remember my dad going to American car dealerships in the 1970s who would try very hard not to sell him a small car. Lately I've seen Japanese car dealerships trying the same game. (e.g. you can't buy a new Honda Fit because they said the factory washed out in a flood, but they have 30 CR-Vs that are made in the same factory in stock) Rumor has it that Honda and Toyota would like to get rid of the Civic and Corolla but it's hard to do when they know people will pay a 50% markup or more to get a used one. (e.g. some people's idea of a 'quality' car is that it starts when you turn the key and the head gasket doesn't blow out at 17,000 miles -- that is, not a Cadillac)