The signs are everywhere. People are finally starting to get it. Gas prices are not coming down. It’s just becoming to big of an expense to drive and own a big truck or SUV.

Across the board manufactures are starting to get affected by ever slumping ans weakening truck and SUV sales. How are they dealing with it? Well many are doing it in different ways. Ford has recently announced that they are retooling one of their truck assembly plants to make cars. Chrysler has has idled Dodge Ram production in Mexico and is instead focusing on a compact car. Like I said, the signs are everywhere.

Toyota has just announced the introduction of two new future hybrid models and Honda is currently leasing the FCX hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to people in California. No plans to sell them yet though, and I hope they don’t fall the fate of General Motor’s EV1.

People are just fed up with the cost. A buddy of mine, who is by the way an avid truck fan, has recently told me that he sold his beloved mini-monster truck. “Gas was getting ridiculous, who can pay $90 bucks every two days just on gas? I barely drive anywhere!” It’s an all too common scene in my neck of the woods. My buddy got a Honda Accord. He loves it and says that even though he misses his truck from time to time, he appreciates the Accord more saying,  “It’s easier to live with. I can park it anywhere and a tank now lasts me all week!”

Some form or another of this scenario is happening all over the country. Soccer mom’s are getting rid of their coveted monster SUV’s and the only trucks you see on the road are becoming work trucks. People are finally getting up and asking for more fuel efficient modes of transportation.

But all is not lost SUV and truck lovers. The one thing you have on your side is the fact that there are a bunch of these brand new vehicles still laying around.  Nobody wants them, or rather people want them but they are just no longer cost affective. GM figures this: “Hey we got all these large trucks and SUV’s around and we need to move them. People want hybrids, we’ll shove hybrid engines in the things!” And that is exactly what they are doing. At this year’s Miami Auto Show, PriceWheels was there at the live unveiling of GM’s new Chevy Suburban and Cadillac Escalade hybrids. Looks like the truck and SUV aren’t dead just yet…