UNDETERRED BY HIGH GAS PRICES, 77% OF CANADIANS ARE PLANNING TO TRAVEL THIS SUMMER

TORONTO, ON, May 12, 2022 – The 2022 edition of the annual Toyota Canada Summer Road Trip Survey conducted by Ipsos revealed that Canadians may be feeling that a “return to normal” is on the horizon. The poll found that nearly all (91%) Canadians are planning to reinstate activities that they had to set aside over the past few years. For some, their summer plans include visiting friends and family, taking more vacation time and, even though gas prices are on the rise, taking international road trips.

Road-trippers are ready to hit the road and, for some, the border

The survey found that three quarters of Canadians (77%) are likely to travel outside their city/town, 43% outside the province and, 24% may take a trip across the international border. 33% of Canadians with access to a vehicle (own, lease, borrow, rent) are planning to drive seven hours or more (16% 7-10 hours, 8% 11-24 hours, 9% more than 24 hours) to reach their road trip destinations, while another 31% are willing to drive four to six hours from home.

Along the way, many hope to spend their time doing things that make them feel relaxed (67%) and excited (53%).

Rising gas prices are a consideration, but not a deterrent

The increasing price of gas has certainly added a new consideration for road tripping this summer. But, while more than half (53%) of respondents stated that gas prices have had an influence on their road trip plans, 47% say they are not affected. Those planning trips are finding ways to save on gas, like ensuring their vehicle is properly serviced (20%), however 27% of respondents are so excited about their summer road trips that they aren’t worried about saving on gas.

The survey also found a burgeoning interest in using electrified vehicles for road trips: 54% of Canadians agree they’d feel better about going on a road trip in a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or battery-electric vehicle for fuel efficiency and cost savings reasons, while 47% highlighted the environmental benefits of an electrified vehicle.

Reconnecting with friends and family are the main motivators for road trips

For those intending to take a road trip, the driving factor for many is the opportunity to reconnect with their wider social circles: 56% say their destination is a family/friend’s home. Other common destinations include: an overnight stay in another city/town (52%), the beach (34%), national/provincial parks (31%), campgrounds (30%), and cabins/cottages (25%). Visiting family (44%) and visiting friends (43%) are among the experiences most are planning to revisit this year, along with festivals / concerts / cultural events (25%) and indoor attractions such as museums, malls and theatres (28%).

“Over the last few years, many Canadians told us that spending time in nature was the primary goal of their summer road trips,” said Stephen Beatty, Vice President, Corporate at Toyota Canada. “By contrast, there’s much more buzz in the air this year as people are excited to take road trips to reconnect with their wider circles of family and friends, and to once again enjoy larger-scale summer events like concerts, festivals and sporting events.”

Many Canadians planning to take more vacation this summer

Canadians are increasingly taking advantage of opportunities to step away from work. Four in ten (39%) Canadians are planning to take more vacation time this summer than they did last year. While the majority of Canadians indicate they will take one (38%) or two (29%) weeks of vacation, some (13%) say they will take three weeks of vacation, while nearly one in five (19%) say they will take four or more weeks of holiday this summer.

Some regional highlights include:

• 12% of British Columbians with access to a vehicle are road trip warriors and plan to drive 11 to 24 hours to get to their road trip destinations
• 32% of Albertans prefer more spacious vehicles so they can travel with more friends and family
• In the Prairies, 40% are planning to cultivate their love for outdoors and go camping
• 28% of Ontarians are planning to take an international road trip
• Ready to hit the road no matter what, 45% of Quebecers say gas prices have not affected their plans at all
• 49% of Atlantic Canadians are planning to leave their province on their road trips this summer

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About the Study

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between March 22-23, 2022, on behalf of Toyota Canada. For this survey, a sample of 2,000 Canadians aged 18+ was interviewed online. Quotas and weighting were employed to ensure that the sample’s composition reflects that of the Canadian population according to census parameters. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within ± 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadians aged 18+ been polled. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to, coverage error, and measurement error.

About Toyota Canada Inc.

Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Toyota has sold over six million vehicles in Canada through a national network of 288 Toyota and Lexus dealerships. Toyota is dedicated to bringing safety, quality, dependability and reliability to the vehicles Canadians drive and the service they receive. TCI’s head office is in Toronto, with regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax, and parts distribution centres in Clarington and Vancouver. Toyota also operates two manufacturing facilities in Canada. Having produced more than nine million vehicles, popular Canadian models built at these facilities include the Toyota RAV4, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, the Lexus RX and RX hybrid, and the Lexus NX and NH hybrid. Recent investments at its facilities in Ontario will allow for increased production of these top-selling models for the North American market.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is the world’s third largest market research company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people. Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5,000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

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