Americans love big cars. It’s a fact. With relatively wide road and low gasoline prices compared to the rest of the world, America is the perfect place to own a truck or big SUV. For years the companies selling the middle class those vehicles were GM, Toyota, Ford and Chrysler. Now, more foreign companies are looking to cash in on Americans’ desire for big automobiles. Chester Dawson writes:
Subaru Corp. FUJHY 1.52% has become one of the world’s most profitable car companies by selling Japanese-inspired wagons to American buyers with unconventional tastes.
Now, with its dependence on the U.S. market increasing, the Tokyo-based auto maker is launching the Ascent, an eight-seater sport-utility vehicle that it hopes will appeal to Middle America’s infatuation with larger and heavier transportation.
Two-thirds of new vehicle buyers in the U.S. choose SUVs or pickup trucks, according to Kelley Blue Book, up from about half in 2013—a trend that has helped boost overall transaction prices. When the Ascent goes on sale this summer—starting in the low $30,000s—Subaru will join Volkswagen AG , Nissan Motor Co. , Hyundai Motor Corp. and other foreign brands adding bigger vehicles to their lineups.
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