The Los Angeles Times whines about the President rolling back Obama-imposed future CAFE fuel standards for cars, light trucks, and SUVs, instead freezing them at present levels. Let’s think about why he did this.
Year after year, the single most popular motor vehicle purchased in the U.S. is the Ford F-150 pickup truck. Chrysler and GM sell plenty of “pick’em ups” too. A very high proportion of the non-pickup sales are SUVs many of which are based on light truck designs.
Pickups and SUVs are big, husky vehicles which have plenty of power but don’t get exceptional mileage. Most pickup drivers are Trump voters. What do Trump voters want? To visit his new border wall in their pickup, and The Donald knows it.
More generally, Salesman Donald knows it’s easier to sell people things they already want and like. Don’t be surprised if he backs policies popular with his base. Irritating California’s “greens” is, as they say in Cajun country, pure lagniappe.
