They were still selling into the 30s, marketed primarily towards women (“less maintenance, no gasoline needed”, etc). The Depression really killed off the environment that allowed many people to own multiple cars, and those little electric city cars were the first to go because you needed something that was big and could actually carry your kids and your dog and your belongings and whatever else.

This is true, but as most self defense people will tell you, it only takes a small hole in another person to stop them worrying about much more than “oh damn that dude just shot me”.