I can not come on terms with some countries crating their dogs... it sounds really strange to me actually. Here in Sweden we don't do such things.
Perhaps my negativity towards this is that me myself suffer from severe claustrophobia.
This is probably good for Abbe though because it lead to that we bought a bigger car.... with large space in the back for him to stay.
It is quite common that we swedes put in a cage in the back of the car where the dog can be placed.
I didn't want such a cage for Abbe (because me myself got panic of thinking the thought of being placed in such a small crate).
Therefore we bought two gates that fits. So Abbe has the whole back-place for himself hahahaha. See picture of gate:
http://www.jeppe.com/grindar/astra.html
URL to JEPPE website:
http://www.jeppe.com