Carmakers shift to SUVs as buyers shun sedans

As the year draws to a close, auto companies are again celebrating a near-record number of cars and trucks sold and a near-record average transaction price per vehicle.

But the news isn't all good. New car sales for 2017 have been marked by demand for SUVs rising to unprecedented heights, while interest in traditional passenger cars has plummeted.

Many car companies that sell both kinds of vehicles have gained sales in one segment only to lose them in another. Manufacturers that lean more toward passenger cars could soon be stuck with factories and production lines making vehicles