Actually, We Do Need Them

[Bruce Levinson]

In an otherwise intelligent article on the growing number of vehicle models, Business Week makes the following statement: "We sure don't need them all -- but Detroit, Germany, and Japan just keep cranking them out. Minivans. SUVs. Roadsters. Sedans. Every carmaker, it seems, is racing into every niche."

Actually, we do need them. The public's transportation needs are increasingly diverse. That is why many automakers are spending substantial sums on designing and developing new vehicle types including vehicles designed to serve specific market niches. The automtive market is changing from one that was manufacturer-driven where consumers were expected to tamely accept what was offered to a marketplace that has put the consumer in the driver seat. From cup holders to all wheel drive, design changes are being dictated by consumer demand. The automakers have learned this lesson. Let's make sure that regulators hear the same message and don't restrict vehicle choice.

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