>Fuel prices and registration fees are only slightly higher in California but that small economic nudge is enough to knock trucks completely out of the ranks of best-selling vehicles in that state.
I'd be cautious about blaming it all on fuel prices. I'd argue that the increased wealth of California residents relative to the rest of the country also plays a part in why a vehicle that is too expensive for most people made it so high on that list in California.
That price is for a V6 (not ecoboost), single-cab, short-bed F-150 that doesn't even have power locks or windows. Those trucks aren't generally sold to consumers. Minimally, you're looking at at least $35,515 for an XL Super Cab, but more than likely you're looking at a minimum cost of $41,755 for an XLT. KBB's data [1] reported that the average cost in 2018 for an F-150 was $47,174 before fees.
Not sure what you were trying to cherry-pick there, but in general trucks cost more than cars, and this has been the case for decades. The recent new record highs for average new light vehicle price has been largely driven by a continued shift toward trucks and away from cars.
I'd be cautious about blaming it all on fuel prices. I'd argue that the increased wealth of California residents relative to the rest of the country also plays a part in why a vehicle that is too expensive for most people made it so high on that list in California.