I think the author is pointing at that concept, with the idea that CAN hasn't evolved over time in the same way as HTTP. Ideally there'd be a CAN2.0 for the cars that want it, that's backwards-compatible with CAN1.0 readers/etc.
If he works in this space, I would think he'd know that there are new things being worked on:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAN_FD
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FlexRay
Not that these seem to work differently at the OSI Layer 1/2 layer, so while older messages can be sent over the newer transport, it is not wire compatible.
As long as the new version of the protocol is still formatted on the higher OSI layers in terms of reusing the core messages from the old version, and then adding new messages that are optional to the understanding of what's going on from a CAN1.0 perspective, then a change in the PHY layer still isn't really throwing the baby out with the bath-water.
I mean, HTTP is quite old.
and CAN is a solid piece of tech. Ultra reliable, fast and low wire count. It's controllers are cheap and reliable.