Don't forget the way we handle fuel economy standards in the US... or did, given the way those regulations are being repealed for some reason.
Petroleum is a critical resource and most countries manage its use in automobiles for fuel in a fairly direct way: They tax the living shit out of gasoline and diesel. If you use more, you pay more. You have incentive to buy a smaller, more basic car because they will ultimately cost you less.
But not here. We gave exceptions on light trucks because that's all the big three could competently produce back when fuel economy standards were being introduced and we were getting our brains beaten in by the Japanese. Making more fuel-efficient vehicles requires R&D, and R&D spend is money not sent to a shareholder. Since the bigger vehicles don't count towards CAFE and smaller vehicles do, guess which vehicles the big three push harder to consumers?
That's a factor, though it's worth pointing out that California and Canada both have fuel taxes substantially higher than other parts of North America and light trucks/SUVs continue to outsell sedans significantly. Fuel taxes aren't irrelevant (sedans sell relatively better there than in other regions), but it's overwhelmed by buyer preference.
It’s beginning to feel like a survival tactic. I’ve driven an Accord since ~‘08 and I am actively considering a huge truck just so I can see what’s happening on the road again.
The cost of living in California makes the gas taxes irrelevant. Let's compare them. I've picked Vallejo, CA versus Wheeling, IL. Both are about 30 miles from the nearest major city (San Francisco / Chicago). Both are pretty suburban.
Gas in Vallejo is about $4.09 / gal, versus $3.49 (according to GasBuddy.com).
The average house in Vallejo is about $539,000, versus Wheeling at about $307,000 (according to Zillow)
The "minimum annual income to live comfortably" in Vallejo is $96,120, versus $46,080 in Wheeling (according to BestPlaces.net). Side note: crime in Wheeling is significantly lower than Vallejo.
These places were chosen essentially at random, but meant to be comparable, and the differences are pretty stark. Houses are slightly less than twice as expensive in Vallejo, but the cost of living is more than twice as expensive by a comfortable margin. In terms of living costs, for them to be comparable, Vallejo's gas would need to be a little over $7 / gal, just for you to start seeing meaningful effects.
TL;DR - California's gas taxes are basically meaningless when it comes to guiding buyers' decisions.
Petroleum is a critical resource and most countries manage its use in automobiles for fuel in a fairly direct way: They tax the living shit out of gasoline and diesel. If you use more, you pay more. You have incentive to buy a smaller, more basic car because they will ultimately cost you less.
But not here. We gave exceptions on light trucks because that's all the big three could competently produce back when fuel economy standards were being introduced and we were getting our brains beaten in by the Japanese. Making more fuel-efficient vehicles requires R&D, and R&D spend is money not sent to a shareholder. Since the bigger vehicles don't count towards CAFE and smaller vehicles do, guess which vehicles the big three push harder to consumers?