That's the other way around, they are great at making people want to buy the products they make. They make trucks because the chicken tax makes foreign trucks and vans unattractive in the US. And the trucks grow bigger every year because it's easier to satisfy environmental regulations with bigger vehicles (since the goals depend on vehicle size). They then make really good propaganda^w marketing to make people want to buy those vehicles.
If people only wanted rugged, reliable, long-lasting vehicles they would buy Toyota.
And that trucks are that popular at all is already a symptom of the "issue". Most people who drive trucks would be served better by hatchback, or if you want a bigger front grill an SUV. But trucks are cooler, manlier, more American. Which isn't an idea people got on their own. Which isn't an idea people got on their own, it's carefully cultivated in the US.
It’s all about current profit. Remember how the US crushed millions of used cars to help the auto industry and destroyed poor peoples chances of an affordable car? I’ll bet it happens again very soon.