Over the last century, vehicle characteristics have changed a great deal, and the supply of vehicles has undergone a major transformation.
A. Canadian vehicles have been getting larger, longer, higher and heavier
There is no denying this observation. Between 1994 and 2019, the size of vehicles’ primary characteristics has increased significantly:
- Mass is up 25%;
- Floor surface is up 11%;
- Wheelbase size is up 7.4%;
- Width is up 5.5%;
- Length is up 5%.
The result? A 1-km section of roadway can accommodate 10 fewer vehicles than before!
It should therefore come as no surprise that the size of sedans is now inching closer to that of intermediate SUVs, while moving further away from that of hatchbacks. This trend is exacerbating the already significant phenomenon of ‘road obesity’ in Canada.
B. Vehicle models and versions are proliferating.
Between 1994 and 2019, on the market, we saw:
- a 42% increase in the number of vehicle models;
- a 60% increase in the number of model versions.
Automakers are relying on a very personalized approach to marketing their vehicle models. The differences – some of them subtle – that distinguish models and versions enable automakers to position themselves throughout the market, much to the benefit of their bottom line.
It is crucial to reach a consensus so that we can distinguish the various categories from one another and better document the impacts of this transformation on the safety of others and traffic congestion.