I also suspect a big incentive for keeping car infrastructure ona federal level is roads and car manufacturing are just manufacturing supply chains and logistica that can be switched to weapons manufacturing.

The largest car manufacturers became the behemoths they are due to WWII. After the war was over it seemed good to keep the jobs , skilled labor and factories going.

Highways were also specifically built for military maneuvering.

That said, public transport is way more efficient and makes communities safer, happier and more economically productive. I say we can have both. And the military will be less necessary if consumption is scaled back. But then the billionaires will have to pay more taxes because poor people wont be spending their retirement investments on cars so they can be more employable.

Blargh.