A new study warns that the relentless expansion of car dimensions, termed 'carspreading,' could eliminate up to 14% of on-street parking in major European cities. In London and Berlin alone, researchers project a loss of over 100,000 parking spaces each due to vehicles growing 1.2 cm longer every year.
Passenger vehicles have swollen across all key dimensions, with width and height also increasing. The study's authors argue that if current growth rates persist, the cumulative effect on urban infrastructure will be severe, straining already limited curb space and forcing cities to reconsider parking policies.
Infrastructure designed decades ago cannot accommodate today's larger vehicles. The findings highlight a growing mismatch between vehicle size and the static dimensions of on-street parking bays, which remain unchanged. This trend may accelerate the need for cities to redesign streets or shift toward alternative mobility solutions.
Geopolitically, the trend reflects automakers' push toward larger, heavier vehicles, particularly SUVs, which dominate new car sales across Europe. This shift complicates efforts to reduce urban congestion and emissions, as larger vehicles consume more fuel and require more space.
Critics note that the study's projections assume linear growth without accounting for potential policy interventions or shifts in consumer preferences. If cities implement stricter parking regulations or incentivize smaller vehicles, the estimated parking loss could be significantly mitigated. The study itself acknowledges that 'ever bigger' cars could kill over 400 additional spaces annually, but this depends on continued growth trends.