During the leaders’ debate broadcast Thursday evening on Radio-Canada, several subjects were discussed, including the tax on gasoline vehicles proposed by Québec solidaire. To defend this measure, the co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, mentioned that “the Toyota RAV4, we sell 24 times more of them in Quebec than Dodge Caravans, and yet this vehicle will not be affected by our plan. “. Does it really sell 24 times more RAV4 than Dodge Grand Caravan? Clarifications are needed.
For the year 2021, which is used as a reference to derive these statistics, it has actually sold 24 times – 24.75, in fact – more Toyota RAV4 than Dodge Grand Caravan. The RAV4 was one of the most popular in the category with 15,939 units sold compared to only 644 units of the Grand Caravan for the same period. So there is a very clear 24 to 1 ratio.
A disappearing model
However, you should know that the Dodge Grand Caravan, for the 2021 model year, was not officially sold, which distorts the reality. The production of the once very popular minivan officially ended at the end of August 2020. This means that the Dodge Grand Caravans sold in 2021, the reference year for the statistics used, were leftover models from 2020 which were then available in limited numbers since the model was no longer in production. It was gradually replaced by the Chrysler Grand Caravan in 2021, which sold 590 units that year. On the other hand, the Toyota RAV4 had its best year of sales in Quebec in 2021.
If we use the figures for 2020, the last full year of sales for the two models, the reality is very different. Although sales for the 2020s were disrupted by the global COVID-19 pandemic, 14,229 RAV4s were still sold in Quebec, while Dodge Grand Caravans sold 2,387. The ratio is therefore more like six RAV4s for a Grand Caravan.
Remember that according to Québec solidaire’s plan to introduce a tax on gasoline vehicles, the Toyota RAV4 would be spared because its greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions are below the target of 210 grams per kilometre. Indeed, the Toyota RAV4 Trail is the one that emits the most carbon dioxide in the range, with 200 grams per kilometre. Vehicles that exceed the 210 grams per kilometer threshold would be subject to a 15% tax.
