If EVERYONE Wants SUVs And Trucks, WHY Are They Building EV Sedans FIRST?

Before the start of this week's Los Angeles Auto Show (LAAS) big news took center stage. That would be General Motors coming out and announcing plant closures, lay offs and the death of many vehicles.

The big loser? That would be sedans.

If Ford's announcement earlier this year wasn't already a big enough signal to the market, at large, GM's certainly is. That's because GM has a tendency to lag the industry. Don't ask us why, it just is.

So, it's pretty obvious that the product mix at today's automakers must change and adapt to consumer tastes. This isn't a fad, either. It's a systemic, global change. While we were preparing for this week's show and even walking the floor, we had a realization: WHY are manufacturers building electric sedans FIRST when everyone is clued in that buyers are going for sport-utility vehicles and trucks?

What are we missing here?

What say you, Spies?

wilfred - 11/29/2018 11:38:13 PM

+5 Boost

Actually most manufacturers started with a hatchback.

t_bone - 11/30/2018 12:06:44 AM

+7 Boost

Simple physics and economics of battery range. Have to load up the vehicle with a lot more to get the same range, and that's still by far the costliest component.

vdiv - 11/30/2018 3:10:16 AM

+4 Boost

That, and related to it, EVs are considered for their efficiency and smaller vehicles are more efficient.

Runamukk - 11/30/2018 12:07:17 AM

+1 Boost

Wondered this myself.

TheSteve - 11/30/2018 1:24:19 AM

+2 Boost

Because people who want an EV take the best (according to their perception) of what's offered, and what's offered is a meagre selection.

Because there's so much selection with gasoline powered vehicles, consumers become a lot more choosy.

MDarringer - 11/30/2018 8:23:05 AM

-1 Boost

My guess is that two things are true: (1) the Audi Taycan exists to go after the Model S by using the same form and (2) that the Audi Taycan will actually replace the A6/A7/A8 over time.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 11/30/2018 9:12:56 AM

+3 Boost

Correctamundo...

vdiv - 11/30/2018 12:24:42 PM

+2 Boost

Technically it's a liftback.

MDarringer - 11/30/2018 7:02:42 PM

0 Boost

@fiftyseven and coupes these days have four doors....your point (besides the on on your head)?

OneOfOne - 11/30/2018 9:05:06 AM

+5 Boost

because range range range

cidflekken - 11/30/2018 11:39:59 AM

+2 Boost

Audi intro'd the e-tron SUV and Mercedes the EQC before any sedans. Jaguar has its I-Pace.

cidflekken - 11/30/2018 12:08:52 PM

+3 Boost

and clearly the incredible success of the Model S and Model 3 have something to do with it.

Lovesponge76 - 11/30/2018 1:11:52 PM

0 Boost

I think the better question is why haven't the price of sports sedan dropped? Side note I just saw my first alpha quadraporte. C63 is still my fav.

Hauerg - 11/30/2018 1:38:22 PM

+2 Boost

AlPHa?

MDarringer - 11/30/2018 7:03:53 PM

0 Boost

Correct! I would bolster sedan sales by dropping all trim levels one price level and ditch the stripper queens like the base 3 Series.

MrEE - 12/1/2018 9:40:05 PM

+1 Boost

Aerodynamics to achieve max range are paramount and no one buys a SUV to be efficient.

MDarringer - 12/1/2018 10:06:40 PM

+1 Boost

an SUV

when you use an acronym you say the letters....

jtz7 - 12/1/2018 10:20:35 PM

+1 Boost

That's a nice greenhouse design.

skytop - 12/2/2018 2:14:31 AM

+1 Boost

Why don't you ask Elon Musk that same question.