A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen

I love the look and the idea, but I wonder if it will go the way of the small/budget phone?

Will folks revealed preference continue to be big and expensive?

One advantage they might have is that there isn't much on the market for low priced pickup trucks in general. I'd probably rather have a gas pickup than an electric but I don't want to pay the inflated prices that go along with them.

Agreed. The U.S. market had a very long run of both large expensive and small cheap pickup trucks, and people consistently have bought the big luxury pickups. It is why all the small trucks were axed to begin with. Even back in their prime, I saw many more F-150s than Rangers. Its an easy up-sell as I'm sure any car salesman will say: well for only a few more thousand you get into a full-size, and from there, add some options and its over.

>Even back in their prime, I saw many more F-150s than Rangers.

I think you're misremembering. The streets were flooded with Rangers and S10s back in the day. Full sized pickups have been the most popular class of vehicle for decades but that number is grossly inflated by the amount that are bought as fleet vehicles or work vehicles.

The economy (checks 401k) has changed though.

It doesn't matter why the number is inflated. If full sized trucks are most popular, then that's what you'll see more of. In any case, there are many people for whom a full-size pickup is their daily driver and not used for work. HN is constantly complaining about it, just not today apparently.

“It is why all the small trucks were axed to begin with.”

No, it is because emissions regulations. A small truck can’t be built on our emissions policies, not that there isn’t a market for one.

Looking at the Ranger, it sold 5.6M units between 1985-2005, its highest selling years.

F series Fords definitely outsold it, but is also a larger product line.