Carmakers Give Americans What They Want: Bigger Cars for Fat People

It's not a new fact that Americans are still fighting to tackle obesity, but this also has a major impact over the local auto industry. Carmakers are obviously dependent on buyers' requirements so, in order to sell more cars, they have to make them just the way customers want them to be. And companies selling cars in the United States revealed a not so surprising fact: buyers are asking for bigger cars with more interior space.

Not because they are more imposing or other things like that, but because fatter drivers need bigger cars, thus getting more interior space, better comfort and increased safety.

"The auto industry tends to give customers what they say they want," says Sage Marie, manager of Honda product planning, according to a report by USA Today. "But there is no overt policy. Cars are getting bigger, with more hip, elbow and shoulder room as time goes on, but that's not a function of overtly targeting the marketing requirements of extra-large people."

The 2011 Honda Accord and Honda Odyssey have been chosen the two best cars for larger drivers by Customer Reports, closely followed by Hyundai Azera. Is this the right way to go for the automotive industry? Companies say it is.

"Maximizing interior volume is one of our mission statements, part of our DNA on all our vehicles," said Hyundai spokesman Miles Johnson. "Comfort of your passengers is important. More room helps with visibility from the very beginning, regardless of peoples' size. Interior room is a feature anyone can appreciate."