Is the Pickup Truck an American Icon Again?
It was just a few decades ago that a pickup truck was the classic American automobile icon. Officially introduced by Ford in the 1920’s but present for years before as crafty workmen modified the chassis of their existing cars, America was essentially built on pickup trucks. Although they have come a long way from their rugged beginnings, pickup trucks are once again aimed to be the top selling vehicle in America and a symbol of the American automobile worldwide. This article looks at some of the reasons people are gravitating towards pickups, and how their sales are performing in America.
Years ago, a late 50’s Chevy pickup truck was the most common example of an American vehicle on the road. Drivers later shifted towards sedans and then minivans, and the SUV and crossover class has been seeing it’s fifteen minutes of fame for the last few years. But looking at the recent production and sales of pickup trucks, as well as what upcoming models will offer drivers, one may argue that the pickup is having its comeback and will once again be the archetypal American car.
Staggering Sales
Over the past three to four decades, pickup truck sales have increased dramatically by a huge 9 million units sold. Last year, the Kelley Blue Book reported that a large chunk, 16.5%, of the 17.2 million cars sold in America were pickup trucks. The last couple model years of the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500 full-sized pickups have consistently been the top three selling cars in America, respectively. This marks the 42nd year in a row the F-150 has been the top selling vehicle in America- a truly unprecedented accomplishment. In 2017 alone, the Big Three saw enormous sales of their full-sized pickup trucks; according to the Detroit Free Press, there were 896,764 Ford F-Series sold, 585,864 Chevy Silverado pickups sold, 500,723 Rams, and 217,943 GMC Sierras. With sales numbers like these, and the fact that pickup buyers are more brand loyal and willing to buy American than any other group of ca owners, pickups sales are an essential part of Detroit’s economy and the health of the Big Three. These important vehicles aren’t quite the pickups the America was built on, however.
Humble Roots
The original pickup trucks were working tools. Their big cabs and towing capability paired with great durability made them ideal for farm work and other agricultural jobs. Later, as more and more people moved to urban areas and cities developed, the pickup interior got a little bigger, but the large bed was still useful for travel and weekend getaways, work vehicles, and of course moving the family to a new house. Current top-selling, full-sized “crew cab” pickups are different still, as they’re more vehicles of luxury than utility. Sure, you can still tow a trailer or take the family camping in a new F-150 equipped with entertainment systems, a leather interior and automatic climate control and navigation, but do you really want to scratch that sparkling paint job? Modern pickups have been lucky enough to have more relaxed regulations over the years due to their popularity and utility towards infrastructure, and thus have had the pleasure of riding a thin, exclusive line between luxury performance vehicle and work utility vehicle.
An Unclear Future
With all the recent talk of electric vehicles and the future of vehicle fuel systems, one might wonder how the pickup truck could continue to see popularity in light of more fuel efficient or electric options. The truth is, the seemingly marginal improvements we see in fuel economy each year in pickup trucks actually has a greater positive impact on the environment than the seemingly huge improvements we see each year in hybrids like the Prius. Despite lackluster fuel economies, pickup drivers love pickups, and they will continue to buy them in staggering numbers no matter what. At the same time, not everyone is willing to pay more money or give up the looks or space of other larger vehicles in favor of smaller hybrids and electric options. With the sheer quantity of full-sized pickups sold in America, increasing their fuel economy from 15mpg to 19mpg, for example, would actually save more fuel than increasing the fuel economy of a hybrid vehicle like the Prius from the mid 40’s mpg to its current 52mpg rating. There simply are not enough hybrids sold to make enough difference in the sales of pickups. Automakers are better off perfecting their pickups, continually improving the fuel economy and driving experience. Pickups already come in the most options of any type of vehicle – budget drivers can pick up a 2.7L turbocharged four- cylinder Silverado or go big and pick up something with a V8 with a price tag anywhere from around $20,000 to well over $60,000. No matter the driver’s needs and price range, it seems there will always be a pickup truck perfect for them.
Conclusion
Considering their staggering sales numbers, spacious and luxurious interiors and ever-improving performance and fuel economy, pickups trucks are here to stay. Not only will they continue to remain a top selling vehicle type, but odds are they will, once again, become the symbol for American cars. Who’s to say what we will see in the world of pickup trucks in the years to come?
Holbrook Auto Parts has had the privilege to work on all kinds of pickup trucks in our years serving the Detroit community. Whether you drive something from the local Big Three or an efficient foreign pickup, a smaller work truck or a new crew cab for the family, Holbrook Auto Parts has the knowledge and parts you need to keep your truck On the Move at an affordable price!
Images from pexels.com
