Since 1970 the market for exporting and importing cars has increased dramatically and the number and type of RO/ROs has increased also. In 1973, Japan’s K-Line built the European Highway, the first Pure Car Carrier (PCC), which carried 4,200 automobiles. Today’s pure car carriers and their close cousins, the Pure Car/Truck Carrier (PCTC) are distinctive ships with a box-like superstructure running the entire length and breadth of the hull, fully enclosing and protecting the cargo. They typically have a stern ramp and a side ramp for dual loading of many thousands of vehicles, as well as extensive automatic fire control systems.

The PCTC has liftable decks to increase vertical clearance as well as heavier decks for "high and heavy" cargo. A 6500 unit car ship with 12 decks can have three decks which can take cargo up to 150 short tons; 134 long tons with liftable "panels" to increase clearance from 1.7 to 6.7 meters (5.6 to 22 ft) on some decks. Lifting decks to accommodate higher cargo reduces the total capacity.

With the building of the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics's 8000 CEU car carrier Faust, out of Stockholm, in June 2007 the car carriers entered a new era called the LCTC (Large Car & Truck Carrier).