thumb|right|Motorcade transporting U.S. President [[George W. Bush in Charlotte, North Carolina]]
thumb|right|Motorcade transporting President [[Park Geun-Hye during her inauguration in Seoul, 2013]]
A motorcade, or autocade, is a procession of motor vehicles, which can be used for ceremonial processions, funerals or demonstrations, or to provide security while transporting a very important person. The American presidential motorcade is an example of both and is a staple of public appearances by the president of the United States.
Etymology
The term motorcade was coined by Lyle Abbot (in 1912 or 1913 when he was automobile editor of the Arizona Republican), and is formed after cavalcade, playing off of the last syllable in that word. The original suffix in cavalcade is actually "-ade", and there is no "-cade" in either French or Latin. -cade has since become a productive suffix in English, leading to the alternative names carcade, autocade, and even Hoovercade (after J. Edgar Hoover) as a suffix meaning "procession". Eric Partridge called the name a "monstrosity", and Lancelot Hogben considered the word to be a "counterfeit coinage".
Uses of motorcades
Funerals
thumb|Funeral motorcade for [[Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C.]]
A funeral cortege is a procession of mourners, most often in a motorcade of vehicles following a hearse.
Protests and demonstrations
Motorcades can be used as protests and demonstrations. A large, organised, group of vehicles will travel a busy route at very slow speed in order to deliberately cause traffic disruption. This is a tactic most often associated with protest groups that have access to many large vehicles, such as truckers and farmers. An example is the 2005 UK protests against fuel prices. As part of the Euromaidan protests in Ukraine in November 2013—February 2014, the sub-movement that made use of car processions as the means of protest was called the Automaidan.
Russian people and their advocates support the 2022 Russian invasion organising motorcades in Germany, Serbia and Greece.
VIPs
thumb|Motorcade transporting Russian President [[Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang, North Korea]]
Motorcades can be used to transport a very important person, usually a political figure. Such a procession consists of several vehicles, usually accompanied by law enforcement support and additional protection to ensure the safety of the people in the motorcade. Motorcades for heads of government and heads of state can consist of dozens of vehicles, those being armoured cars, SUVs, and police motorcycles and cars leading the way and following.
Traffic diversions
Depending on the size of the motorcade and who it is carrying, routes may be completely blockaded from the general public. For security, this often occurs for motorcades for heads of state or government.
President of the United States
thumb|President Obama's Motorcade in Madison, Wisconsin
The motorcade for the President of the United States comprises forty to fifty vehicles; in addition to the president, the motorcade may carry his or her spouse or children, members of the press, security, White House officials, and VIP guests. The major members travel in armored vehicles, typically specially configured limousines. The motorcade contains several armored vehicles, a USSS Electronic Countermeasures Suburban, a counter-assault team, and Secret Service agents. When called for, a hazardous materials team precedes the motorcade on alert for potential hazards.
A police presence precedes the beginning of the presidential motorcade. These cars and motorcycles always drive ahead to clear the way and block traffic and also are in constant communication with the Secret Service.
The motorcade for the president is made up of two parts, the first being the "secure package". In the event of an emergency, the secure package separates from the rest of the group.