Trucks now outsell cars by 2-to-1 margin in US

Sales tallies for the rival categories were equally split just five years ago.

Truck sales have continued to pull ahead of cars in the US as more buyers make the switch.

Sales totals for the rival segments were equally split just five years ago. Pickups, SUVs and crossovers have now reached a 2-to-1 lead over cars in the first five months of the year, according to Automotive News.

Analyst firm LMC Automotive predicts trucks could reach much higher, potentially representing 80 percent of Americans' new-vehicle purchases by 2025.

Powertrain refinements have helped narrowed the fuel-efficiency disparity between typical cars and trucks. Relatively stable gasoline prices have also contributed to the shift, further reducing the day-to-day costs of driving bigger vehicles with fewer mpg.

Many automakers are rushing to fill gaps in their SUV/crossover lineup to avoid missing out on the party. Some are also planning to thin their car lineups, though most are hesitant to drop cars altogether.