U.S. Automotive Industry: Recent History and Issues (CRS Report for Congress)
Premium Purchase PDF for $24.95 (106 pages)
add to cart or
subscribe for unlimited access
Pro Premium subscribers have free access to our full library of CRS reports.
Subscribe today, or
request a demo to learn more.
| Release Date |
April 25, 2005 |
| Report Number |
RL32883 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Stephen Cooney and Brent D. Yacobucci, Resources, Science, and Industry Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
From a once-dominant position in the domestic market, the Big Three todayproduce less than 60% of all automobiles and light trucks sold in the United States.Their market share has been steadily declining. The Big Three developed aconsumer-oriented light truck product, the "sports utility vehicle" (SUV), whichmarket they still dominate, but Japanese and German-based manufacturers have beenmaking major inroads in this class as well. Moreover, to some critics the Big Threehave been on the wrong side of every environmental, safety and social issue, fromopposition to the Clean Air Act, corporate average fuel economy ("CAFE")standards, and mandatory seat belt requirements in the 1960s and 1970s, to slownessin developing alternative fuel vehicles today.
