Europeans are buying more SUVs and similar vehicles because they like them. While partially true, it isn't really because car companies and advertising firms are brainwashing them into buying these things. Consumer demand is why a company like Citroën's current range includes numerous North American style large sedans, crossovers, SUVs and so on. People just want these sort of cars, and it makes sense because they're larger and nicer.
Europe is no "different" than anywhere else and it's an amusingly naive statement to imply they are haha. I'm half Irish and was born there, spent nearly half my life living across Europe so I understand the European mentality quite well. They've always enjoyed big vehicles the same way we do. If you know anything about cars, that's super easy to see. Or have ever done more than a week trip or lived there for a few months to a year. But they also love small ones because sometimes they make more sense, especially in cities where the roads are super chaotic and dangerous. They're easier to drive and cheaper. Being cheaper is good because if you've ever lived in Europe long enough and have owned a car, you understand it'll get destroyed. Dings, bumps, taps, kisses, scrapes etc. It'll quickly have scars. It might even get burned...cities like Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin etc are full of burned out husks of cars. People just like to set them on fire for the hell of it, haha.
But there has always been a desire and market for nice, big vehicles all over Europe. Europeans are no different than anyone else, they want the same things. And now thankfully, manufacturers are starting to react and offer products they want. That's a good thing for business and everyone. If they want something and it can be provided, cool. Not Just Bikes fangirls might seethe at the sight of SUVs on French, Spanish or Dutch streets, but they don't really matter outside their echo chambers. Some governments - be it mayors, national leaders or the fascists in Brussels - are trying to ban them though it won't be all that successful, especially because people have grown absolutely sick and tired of shitty North American liberalism which had been exported around the planet through capitalism and neoliberalism. Europeans want a unified and functioning Europe, but they don't want to be told what they can think, say or do. That includes driving.
Consumers will want what they want and the market reacts. It's not advertisers calling the shots, it's us. The best thing auto manufacturers can do now is pivot towards electrical sedans, SUVs and pickup trucks. Electric vehicles still need a heck of a lot of work since they're environmentally destructive and compared to gas/diesel vehicles tend to suck in a million ways, but improve that and then there's nothing wrong with owning an SUV or whatever someone wishes to drive (not that there's anything wrong with owning a traditional combustion engine SUV).
Europe is no "different" than anywhere else and it's an amusingly naive statement to imply they are haha. I'm half Irish and was born there, spent nearly half my life living across Europe so I understand the European mentality quite well. They've always enjoyed big vehicles the same way we do. If you know anything about cars, that's super easy to see. Or have ever done more than a week trip or lived there for a few months to a year. But they also love small ones because sometimes they make more sense, especially in cities where the roads are super chaotic and dangerous. They're easier to drive and cheaper. Being cheaper is good because if you've ever lived in Europe long enough and have owned a car, you understand it'll get destroyed. Dings, bumps, taps, kisses, scrapes etc. It'll quickly have scars. It might even get burned...cities like Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin etc are full of burned out husks of cars. People just like to set them on fire for the hell of it, haha.
But there has always been a desire and market for nice, big vehicles all over Europe. Europeans are no different than anyone else, they want the same things. And now thankfully, manufacturers are starting to react and offer products they want. That's a good thing for business and everyone. If they want something and it can be provided, cool. Not Just Bikes fangirls might seethe at the sight of SUVs on French, Spanish or Dutch streets, but they don't really matter outside their echo chambers. Some governments - be it mayors, national leaders or the fascists in Brussels - are trying to ban them though it won't be all that successful, especially because people have grown absolutely sick and tired of shitty North American liberalism which had been exported around the planet through capitalism and neoliberalism. Europeans want a unified and functioning Europe, but they don't want to be told what they can think, say or do. That includes driving.
Consumers will want what they want and the market reacts. It's not advertisers calling the shots, it's us. The best thing auto manufacturers can do now is pivot towards electrical sedans, SUVs and pickup trucks. Electric vehicles still need a heck of a lot of work since they're environmentally destructive and compared to gas/diesel vehicles tend to suck in a million ways, but improve that and then there's nothing wrong with owning an SUV or whatever someone wishes to drive (not that there's anything wrong with owning a traditional combustion engine SUV).