Ridesharing and hailing apps like Uber, Lyft, Gett, and others, depending on which country you live have revolutionised transportation, particularly in urban areas. These changes will likely affect car sales in the coming years, according to the Economist article.
Nowadays, perhaps due to people’s awareness of the negative effect of CO2 emissions and climate change, people are starting to embrace two things: electric vehicles and ridesharing/hailing. Both industries are expected to become a very profitable business in the coming years.
When Uber launched its app in 2009 in San Francisco, more sharing apps have since emerged and continue to evolve, adding more services and, more importantly, improving users experience into a seamless activity.
Carsharing apps stitching together all modes of transport
According to the Economist article, carsharing and hailing apps are stitching up all modes of transportation to give users a smooth riding experience – from taking a scooter to the underground station, getting into the train, and jumping into an Uber for the last few miles of the travel.
These apps offer their users various travel options and a subscription package if they choose to do so.
Car companies investing in carsharing and hailing business
No doubt, carsharing and hailing options is becoming one of the major forms of transportation. The industry generates billions of revenues that major car companies like GM, Volkswagen, and Toyota invest in them.
The widespread acceptance of carsharing and hailing modes of transport has somewhat shifted the concept of car ownership into “usership”.
Car companies are wise to anticipate this shift. They have started introducing new business models to reflect these changes, like charging for use rather than ownership, carsharing options, or peer-to-peer rental.
On the other hand, upmarket car makers like Volvo, Audi, and Lexus target young city-dwellers with a subscription service that allows them to access any vehicle on demand.
Individual car ownership will likely remain in the suburbs and country
However, despite the unfolding revolution in city centres, car ownership will likely stay in small towns, and rural locations where the only option to get around is having your vehicle.
According to the article, the success of carsharing and hailing will see a decline in car sales in the coming years.
Do the threats of climate change and the need to reduce emissions influenced this shift and the increasing uptake of more electric vehicles?
The success of Tesla, an American electric vehicle manufacturer, is proof of this.
Please read further by visiting the link in the citation below.
Source Citation:
New means of getting from A to B are disrupting carmaking. (2021, April 7). The Economist. Retrieved from https://www.economist.com/business/2021/04/15/new-means-of-getting-from-a-to-b-are-disrupting-carmaking
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