Haven't read the USA article, but I read the NPR one. Ford did something similar recently by moving its focus (no pun intended) to its truck/ SUV line. I'm trying to figure out the true logic here. Correct me if I'm wrong, but fuel prices have a strong impact on what types of cars (American) consumers purchase. I've always found this batshit insane, because in my lifetime I've only ever seen gas prices go up and up and up. I admit, fuel prices have stayed impressively low for a while now. But that still doesn't give me the confidence to go buy a gas-guzzling Canyonaro (Simpsons reference). After all, I survived $4/gal fuel prices a few years ago and it stuck with me. I feel it could come back at any moment. But maybe the auto manufacturers predict something different- that oil prices will never significantly rebound and that they have a safe bet marketing less efficient vehicles for years to come. Probably I just don't see the big picture, but if it was up to me I'd be cautious putting all my eggs in the back of a pickup truck.