Jaguar has submitted an application to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and Oxford Dictionaries to revise the definition of the word 'car'. At present, the OED defines a ‘car’ 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.’ On the other hand, the Oxford Dictionaries definition is similar: ‘A road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine and able to carry a small number of people.’
The British car makers want Oxford to include additional powertrains, including electric vehicles to the updated definition. The reason behind Jaguar’s move is the company’s all-electric performance SUV, Jaguar I-Pace. But if we go by the official meaning of the word ‘car’ then the zero-emission vehicle doesn’t fall under the ‘car’ category.
David Browne, head of Jaguar Land Rover’s naming committee, said, "A lot of time and thought is put into the name of any new vehicle or technology to ensure it is consumer friendly, so it’s surprising to see that the definition of the car is a little outdated.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."
Further, Jaguar has also asked people to support the movement and express their thoughts across social media platforms. The car makers urged people to use the hashtag #RedefineTheCar on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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