According to the 2012 global survey the size, shape and technology of vehicles will be impacted heavily by the cities they are driven in. This view is more widely held in the Americas and Asia Pacific than in Western Europe, which is surprising, given the latter region’s heavy population density.
Mobility services are coming – even to emerging markets
Mobility services are seen as an answer to the spatial, environmental and social issues associated with growing urbanization. Understandably, the use of mobility services is expected to be concentrated largely in more built-up areas, where congestion, pollution and limited parking space is a major concern. This also points to opportunities in less mature markets, where cities are still being shaped – and in some cases built from scratch. By working with planning authorities and tailoring vehicles to the specific needs of a city, OEMs can gain a foothold in this expanding sector.
Potential mobility services customers in 2026
Although the survey findings indicate that drivers will be slow to give up their personal cars, with less than 15 percent expected to use some form of on-demand service, the sheer size of megacities, especially in the emerging markets, create a substantial and growing global market for mobility services. China for instance has 150 cities of 750,000 inhabitants or more, giving a potential target market for mobility services of well over 50 million people by 2026. Consequently a vast majority of automotive executives view this country as the number one target for such services.
