Well no one complained about the SS in the early 2010s.

Assuming similar length and wheelbase between crossovers and hatchbacks, the crossovers add vertical space. It’s better to have vertical space than not to have it, but horizontal space is way more practical than vertical space.

So that’s it. We don’t get the Taos in Europe. Probably too far down market?

It is true that it does not have US style freedom. The US style freedom is kind of a ‘F you, I’ve got mine’ freedom, while the western/northern European freedom is more about access to education/healthcare/democracy/pension/social mobility and whatnot.

Even without the green underglow that truck would be stopped by the first European police officer in sight. And would not be allowed back on the road without huge modifications. The wheels extend way past the fenders and the headlights would be too high up. And those are merely the first things one notices.

I live in Germany, yet I've never in my life seen a Merc star that was lit. I guess it's a USDM option?

Fuel economy in the US is at a level that Europe was at in the 80s or early 90s. Sure, fuel economy in the US is improving, but ‘the most effective option’? Had it been the most effective it would not be lagging so far behind, would it?

I wonder what will happen to manufacturers who are not/barely active in Europe. Like GM or Honda.

True. But that’s a different question.

Those are very broad statements.

That is something you see more often in the US. Like the constitution, which is often seen as gospel rather than a means to an end.

We have free market capitalism in Europe too, just like in the US. On both sides of the pond the market is not entirely free. Is Chevy free to sell a 2021 Suburban with emissions similar to a 1950 Suburban? Answer: no, it’s not. Or could they sell Their 2021 Suburban without seat belts? No, they can’t. Not even if…

Have any of them been to Western or Northern Europe in this century?

That depends on your perspective. The incentive that the EU (and China and...) are giving manufacturers directly and indirectly to develop good EVs speeds up development of this technology quite a bit. I think it’s safe to say that these vehicles will be ‘ready for prime time’ faster because of it.

For you maybe, but that’s n=1. In Europe gas has been at or over $5 a gallon for ages, but it required heavy subsidies and impeding manufacturer fines to move the market toward EVs and plug-in hybrids.

With ‘this’ I meant trying to achieve what has been achieved here (10-15% EVs) with 2020 technology and no taxation/subsidies/fines other than a gas tax.

No, because that would be unfair competition to the other manufacturers. They would be priced out of the market.

You’d need $10/gallon gas to achieve this.

I think it shows that the EUs needs are different than the US’s.

When the resale value increases, lease rates will drop. If the purchase price increases by $10k and the resale value also increases by $10k, depreciation and thus lease rate will stay the same.