主题：中国有车阶层的最真实写照，转自网易 -- mazda6

you are right. But not earlier than 1970s.

Before the first oil embargo, Europeans also loved and drove big cars just like Americans. European governments woke up to the fact that they have not even one dip of oil below their ass and dramatically increase their tax on gasoline in 1970s.

I asked some old local people when I was in Europe many years ago. The transportation policy diverged between the U.S. and Europe after the oil shocks in 1970s.