Cheap small trucks were killed by the chicken tax, not CAFE.

That’s not really sufficient explanation due to vehicles manufactured in the USA, CA or MX being exempt, and yet there are no small vehicles being made and sold in the USA in any large volume (despite clear demand).

My understanding is that this is due to fuel regulations being enacted by size and weight where it’s simply easier to make bigger vehicles.

The Chicken tax didn't kill the domestically manufactured Ranger and turn the Colorado into the huge thing it is today.

CAFE killed them too. You can't have a small vehicle that gets fuck all MPG because it's built like a tank to do work. You gotta have a bigger one that gets slightly worse MPG but has a way huger footprint in order to make the math math.

This didn't just kill compact pickups for 20yr. It also killed the Chevy Astro (the most "fullsize work van" of the minivans) and why you'll never see a car with a giant overhanging cargo area again.