Take a look at this chart from The Washington Post. It shows what has happened to the sale of smaller cars, such as sedans and station wagons, in the US over the last 50 years, and what has taken their place: SUVs. The trend started in 1975, when the US created two separate categories of vehicles: the light truck (which included pickup trucks and work vehicles) and the passenger car. The passenger car category had stricter fuel economy and emissions standards than the light truck category, because trucks were mostly working vehicles and not used by everyday drivers. However, the lighter standards for trucks inspired automakers to turn them into cars meant for regular consumers: “Okay, girls, we’re off in our new Jeep Cherokee.” Thus, the SUV was born and they have been dominating the market ever since. Some experts say this chart is not just about consumer choice, but policy choice.