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Old 12-13-2009, 02:50 AM   #14 (permalink)
jamesqf
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wdb View Post
The converse is that the imports have been getting bigger (compare Honda Accords over a 10-year span) and import makers have moved into large vehicle territory as well...
Sure, any particular model of import does seem to get bigger over time, but at some point the automaker usually introduces a new small model, for instance the Honda Fit & Toyota Yaris.

Likewise, when the import makers saturated the small car part of the market, they started expanding their range of models in order to increase sales. But the larger models are sold mostly to new-to-them customers, people who'd have formerly bought the similar-sized Detroit product. The small car market is still there, and imports have pretty well got it locked up.
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