You are missing by one generation. GenX is the MTV generation that started driving after mid 90’s. Cars already started to get economical by then, at least in europe. It was those 60’s children in the 70’s and yuppies of 80’s that favored big fuel guzzlers.
I find it positive that 70+ are interested in AI. Normally they just yammer away how culture and cars were better and “more real” in the 60’s and 70’s.