Jaguar Finds Current Dictionary Definition Of "Car" Outdated, Wants It Changed

Electric vehicles are bringing profound changes in the automotive industry, battery technology, our driving habits, and possibly the Oxford English Dictionary.

Jaguar says it’s leading a camping calling for the Oxford English Dictionary and Oxford Dictionaries to update their online definitions of the word “car” since the current version only defines a car as being powered by an “internal combustion engine.”

The UK automaker argues that its I-Pace all-electric crossover is not a car according to current dictionary definitions and encourages people to contact them on social media using #RedefineTheCar and offer their thoughts on how the word “car” should be defined.

Also watch: Jaguar I-Pace Sets EV Lap Record At Laguna Seca

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language, currently defines a car in its online dictionary as “a road vehicle powered by a motor (usually an internal combustion engine) designed to carry a driver and a small number of passengers, and usually having two front and two rear wheels, esp. for private, commercial, or leisure use.”

Jaguar does not like the definition of “car” used by OxfordDictionaries.com either: “A road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine and able to carry a small number of people.”

To rectify the situation, Jaguar has submitted a formal application to the OED and OxfordDictionaries.com to update the definitions to include additional powertrains, including electric vehicles (EV). Obviously, this has everything to do with marketing and Jaguar found a pretty clever idea of keeping its World Car of the Year-winning I-Pace in the news.

“It’s surprising to see that the definition of the car is a little outdated. We are therefore inviting the Oxford English Dictionary and the Oxford Dictionaries to update its online classification to reflect the shift from traditional internal combustion engines towards more sustainable powertrains,” said David Browne, head of Jaguar Land Rover’s naming committee.

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