To add to sibling comment, the "Great Recession" (2007-09) also had a huge negative impact on the global auto industry. GM and Chrysler both filed for bankruptcy in 09 for example. This downturn in the car industry made many car companies far more conservative and a significant number of "fun"/unique cars were removed from the market and never really replaced, alongside big reductions in R&D spend for new products.

Sales also plummeted at major European and Japanese automakers during this period - Toyota recorded its first loss in decades etc.