Because the cars in 3rd world countries are way expensive (considering the wage), and people take care of them as much as they can. In the US, the cars are relatively cheap and the people are relatively....

I suspect there is another reason; the value of the vehicle in relation to the earning capacity of the owner. In the so called “first world” our ability to earn lots of money gives us less incentive to repair cars that are inexpensive (in relation to our earning capacity). In the so called “third world” a vehicle has a relatively high value relative to the earning capacity of the average worker, so it’s owner has a relatively high incentive to do everything he/she can to keep it on the road. Keeping a car running is a good investment of time in the latter case, but much less so in the former.

in fact, most residents of wealthy countries do nothing to repair our cars. We pay someone else to do the work. Our time feels more valuable than our vehicles (and at least in my case, it takes me 10 times as long to do any given repair AND I’ll probably screw it up if I try).

Suzuki bolan - spartan people carrier/death trap

Toyota Corolla Altis - regular Corolla 

Suzuki Alto - death trap with awful build quality

Suzuki Cultus - awful build quality & notorious for rusting

Honda City - Fit sedan extremely reliable >20yr models still running as daily drivers

Suzuki Swift - awful build quality falls apart <100,000 miles 

Suzuki Jimmy - respected in off-road events and extremely reliable. 

Suzuki Maruti - Indian arm of Suzuki Japan which has been producing mostly junk

MG Hector - Chinese junk

Hundayi Venue - brand new model already having QC issues

Hundayi Sonata - junk just like in the USA 

Hundayi Elantra - junk just like in the USA 

Honda Accord - regular Accord

Kia Sonet - Kia’s version of the Sonet with identical QC issues 

Toyota Noah - poor man’s Sienna 

Mistibushi Pajero - very reliable especially with a diesel

Toyota Allion - related to Avensis

As you can see, the Chinese, Hyundai, Kia & Suzuki still produce junk in third world countries while Toyota & Honda still produce reliable transportation. Toyota has started selling rebadged Suzukis in some markets, so buyers have to watch out for that. 

Be grateful you live in a developed nation and have access to full size automobiles. The Suzuki Alto & Bolan are used as family transport in many parts of the world.

Google their dimensions..

Care and maintenance. 

Americans aren't really known for either.

Americans live in a disposable culture. 

The third world doesn’t have that luxury. 

Maybe distances. USA is a large country.

Do you have any data to support this claim?

Suzuki bolan; May as well be made of aluminium foil

Toyota Corolla Altis: Standard Corolla, possibly with a few less luxuries

Suzuki Alto/Cultus/Swift/Maruti Suzuki: Fine if you drive 1,000 miles a year and all of it is on a completely smooth road less than 30mph. Otherwise, use the bus.

Honda City: See a few of these in Ireland, Japanese imports, they're all mid 2000's and still going strong.

Suzuki Jimmy: Fantastic little off roader, well regarded. See Vitara and Grand Vitara also.

MG Hector: MG were british junk till 15 years ago or so, now their Chinese junk

Hyundai Venu: Called the Kona in Ireland and UK, seems to be reasonable quality.

Hyundai Sonata/Hyundai Elentra: i40 in Europe, not the quality of a Camry or Accord, but not seemingly as bad as in the U.S. Seen a number with well over 250k miles, they're used as police cruisers in Ireland also.

Honda accord: Accord.....

Kia Sonet: Indian market only, manufacturing and retailing, enough said... Related to the Hyundai Venue/Kona above, but likely much less equipped and sh1t build quality.

Toyota Noah: Jap import here, smaller than a Previa or Sienna, Toyota though.

Mistibushi Pajero: Bombproof, a friends dad has one from 1993 with 392,000 miles. Sure it coughs out enough black smoke to shut down Greenpeace but hey its an old diesel.

Toyota Allion: Sits above the Corolla and below the Camry in terms of size and price, had a version of it in Europe called the Avensis from around 1998. Plenty still on the road, most with bare minimum upkeep.

Most of Sub-Saharan Africa, you'll find mid 80's-early 90's Mercedes 190, those things will outlast us all.

Also some places have simpler older technology while the US always gets stuff earlier on with more bugs and people don't take care of their cars.

3 Years stationed in Germany, I never saw anybody driving an american car. The cabs were all Mercedes diesels.

Did have an oppurtunity to have for awhile, a Lotus Europa, sweet little ride!

As stated before, the Europeans take care of thier cars way better than we do.

Just saying,,,,,,,

Oh yeah, saw alot of Fiat's mostly broke down the the autobahn LOL