Australia Seeks to Make National Parking Space Size Bigger

Australia wants to make its national parking space size bigger, extending its length by almost eight inches. Standards Australia, the non-governing organization that develops measurement and construction code standards, is recommending the parking space increase, due to the increase of average vehicle length in Australia, according to the New York Times. But is it America's fault?

Several Australian news outlets were quick to blame the increase in American pickup truck sales in Australia as the reason for this new parking space increase. "First, they forced us to do Halloween, then they made us listen to Kid Rock," said The Project in a recent Facebook video. "Now the Americans are coming for our roads, hogging them up with their obnoxious, grand old trucks."

American pickups are indeed selling in greater numbers than ever before in Australia. In the first half of 2023, 3,697 Australians purchased themselves a Ram 1500 pickup, according to Car Expert. The Chevy Silverado and its HD variant found a combined 1,568 Australian homes. Those are all record sales for American pickups, so there is some truth to the aforementioned claims that U.S.-made trucks are adding to the increase in overall vehicle length. However, it's only a smidgen of truth.