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Europe's SUV market also downsizing



It's become common to hear how big trucks and SUVs are not selling well in the U.S. these days. But it's not just in the States where people are rethinking just how useful a road tank is. Automotive News Europe has a story (subs req'd) on the hit that big SUVs are taking on the continent. Unlike in the U.S., it's not just high fuel prices that are driving the trend in Europe (prices have been high there for a while), but it is the combination of those prices and the new CO2-based taxes implemented by various governments.

Sales of some models - ANE lists the Volvo XC90 and the Hyundai Santa Fe - are down almost 40 percent compared to last year. Customers may still be looking for SUV capabilities in their rides, but are willing to pack people into smaller, cleaner models. This means that the overall SUV market in Europe is down only slightly, thanks in part to big sales of the BMW X5, which benefits from the marque's EfficientDynamics technology.

[Source: Automotive News Europe (subs req'd)]

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