Why Are Pickup Trucks So Popular In The United States?
On the contrary, pickup trucks have been developing mainly in the US market, and their market share in other parts of the world is not high. Recently, various domestic pickup trucks have also begun to grow, and the demand for pickup trucks with excellent traction has gradually increased.
Specific vehicle environment in the United States
The reason why pickup trucks are so popular in the United States is due to the specific vehicle environment in the United States. The United States is a country that spans the entire North American continent. It has a large territory and long extension, and the moving distance will inevitably be extended. Additionally, the further away from the city center, the greater the proportion of paved roads. This is a common phenomenon in countries with vast territories such as China, Russia, and Australia. These local road issues are one factor in the popularity of pickup trucks and SUVs in the United States.
Amazing versatility
Another reason why pickup trucks have become mainstream in the United States can be said to be because of their amazing versatility, that is, their dual positioning as the midpoint between cars and commercial vehicles. Pickups are popular on a variety of industrial sites that require small hauling capacity, including with farmers across the United States. In addition, the low price compared with sedans also plays a big role in the growth of the pickup truck market.
Introduction of Henry Ford
Until the early 20th century, cars were the exclusive property of the wealthy. However, with the introduction of Henry Ford’s (1863-1947) “Ford Model T” in 1908, automobiles began to be made available to the American public in large numbers. In addition to the developed industrial engineering foundation in the United States, the success of the Ford Model T also established a single-model mass production system based on the assembly line. This was considered an innovation at the time and, being available at 1/3 the price of existing cars, it sold like crazy in the United States.
The Ford Model T was originally a sedan. But some people want to use the Model T as a truck. In 1913, about five years after the Ford Model T went on sale in the United States, a place called the Galion Allsteel Body Company in Ohio introduced a modified car that flipped up the back seat of the Model T and installed a loading box there. The vehicle was well received by farmers across the United States for its excellent practicality and was successfully sold. This vehicle is considered the first pickup truck built in the United States.
Noting the high sales of the Model T converted into a truck, Ford launched the “Ford Model TT” in 1917. The characteristic of this car is that it is only sold in the form of a chassis, and only three major parts: engine, gearbox, and chassis are provided. Other places can be selected according to user needs. This optional concept is very advanced even now.
Success of the sales of this type of model
With the success of the sales of this type of model, in 1925, Ford completely completed the Model T in the form of a truck. This is the “Ford Model T Runabout with Pickup Body”. The word “pickup” was used for the first time in this car, and this is where the name pickup came from. The Ford Model T pickup truck is based on the Model T sedan but only has a loading box at the rear. This loading box design integrated with the body design has laid the foundation for the modern pickup truck to a certain extent.
After World War II ended in 1945, Ford saw the need to produce practical trucks for civilians. As part of this, the history of Ford’s representative and popular F-series began for the first time. In 1948, Ford’s first F-series model, the “F-1” (Ford F-1), known as the “Bonus-Built”, was born.
Starting from the launch of the second generation F series in 1953, with the increase in engine performance and load-bearing capacity, the F series brand will also undergo new changes. The F-1 was integrated into the F-100, and the F-2 and F-3 were integrated into the F-250 series. From the third generation onwards, Ford pickup trucks’ unique straight-line design, flat hood, and other design features began to appear.