Options in the Car Market

Let’s say you’re in the market for a new car. You’re looking for a reliable and fuel-efficient sedan but you don’t have $25,000 for a new Prius or diesel Jetta. You also shy away from those second-rate car companies, like Hyundai or Saturn. If this is you, I would recommend the 2010 Nissan Tsuru. It has a sticker price of $8700 and gets 39-47 miles per gallon.

Or maybe you’re looking for a small utility truck. You need a vehicle that will fit into the cramped curbside parking spots outside your house but still be able to haul those bags of concrete for your backyard projects. Again, you are looking for fuel-efficiency, a carmaker with a proven track record, and you have a budget of about $10,000.

The Ford Courier would be a good choice. With a regular Ford truck suspension, this 95 horsepower vehicle can carry 1500 pounds. And for a price of $10,680 it is accessible for many.

However there’s just one problem. If you live in the United States you won’t be able to find either of these cars at the dealership. They are just two examples of car models that I have seen in Mexico that do not exist in the US.

And from what I’ve observed, those cars that are absent in the US are generally fuel-efficient and inexpensive. A combination that is difficult to find in the second biggest car market in the world. The Tsuru, for example, is similar to the Sentra from the 1990’s but with some simpler components such as manual steering and non anti-lock brakes. The Ford Courier is one of various “mini” trucks found throughout much of the world.

It is a common practice for car companies to target certain markets with particular models that they believe will be profitable. However, in a time when money is tight and gas prices are expected to rise, I'm puzzled why we don't see cars like the Tsuru in the US. Perhaps Nissan is afraid the Tsuru would crowd out their more expensive cars and the higher profit margins that come with them. But, nevertheless, I think there is a golden opportunity for a car company to capitalize on this niche market of fuel-efficient $10,000 cars.

In Mexico you can find anything from the Hummer H2 to the diminutive Ford Ka, and perhaps, in the automobile sector, the US's southern neighbor is the land where freedom of choice reigns.