International Women Drivers’ Day is an initiative by the Women’s World Car of the Year. It aims to draw attention to the importance of women in the automotive world.

Across the globe

Just three years ago on 24th June, the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia was lifted. On that day, one of the great remaining walls in the automotive world came down. Women gained mobility, personal freedom and a passion for cars. They have become more visible on the road and behind the wheel. However, that is not to say male attitudes are not without their gridlocks.

Today, women are thought to influence more than 80% of car purchases in advanced countries. This is likely to grow in the coming years.

“The percentage of young women university students is already higher in developed countries. Wage parity is starting to be an achievable goal, Boards of Directors are no longer exclusively male and in the lists of the richest people in the world it is not unusual to see more and more women’s names.” – Marta García, Executive President of WWCOTY.

Fuelling change

International Women Drivers’ Day also celebrates the amplifying role of women in expressing their opinions and experiences of cars on social media. On Instagram, female users reaches 50.8% globally. Similarly, 77.1% on Pinterest, 43.8% on Facebook and 44% on TikTok.

Commenting cover the usual subjects such as performance and safety. But women are are also seen as more environmentally aware. They are an important cog in encouraging the reduction of less environmentally damaging vehicles.

Working influence

International Women Drivers’ Day is also a call for reflection. Many women still feel scrutinised when they drive and remain poorly represented in motor sport.

Women’s World Car of the Year judging is composed exclusively of women motoring journalists. The objective is to choose the best cars of the year. These are not ‘women’s cars’, but based on the principles that guide all consumers, from safety to driving dynamics.

The group also promotes the Woman of Worth Award. It recognises women who work in the industry or in motor sport. This year’s winner is the late motor sport driver Sabine Schmitz. Runner up, Loujain Al Hathloul, is the Saudi woman who  campaigned to give women in her country the right to drive.

Find out more at: womensworldcoty.com