But it's not just luxury brands that are selling. Folks have taken to loading up mainstream brands with luxury accouterments. Take leather seats. Automakers installed them in 4.7 million vehicles for model year 2000, up from 2.1 million in model year 1996, according to Ward's Automotive Yearbook . Factory-installed leather in pickups, minivans and SUVs alone hit 1.4 million in 2000, up from 688,000 in 1996.
Automakers say consumers are demanding luxury amenities in non-luxury brands.
Anti-lock brakes have been standard on the little Chevy Cavalier since 1992. And most consumers pick the upscale LT trim level when they buy a Chevy Blazer. Actually, there's no end in sight. The number of models offered by luxury brands has grown to more than 65 today, compared with about 35 in 1995. Keep on truckin' Take those Caddy and Lincoln pickups.