The transportation industry remains diverse and adaptive, anchored by the dominance of personal vehicles, with 89% of consumers having used this method of transportation in the past year. While personal cars offer convenience and control, ridesharing services have surged as a flexible alternative, especially among younger, urban consumers. Public transportation remains vital for affordability and broad access, though challenges like infrastructure gaps and safety concerns persist. Micromobility options, such as bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters are gaining momentum, propelled by younger users prioritizing sustainability and efficiency. However, limited – but improving – infrastructure create barriers to widespread adoption. Autonomous vehicles signal the future of mobility, with younger consumers more open to self-driving technologies, presenting opportunities for innovation in safety and integration moving forward.
Across all methods, safety, reliability, and affordability drive consumer choices, while environmental sustainability holds a place among these preferences. The future of the transportation industry’s growth hinges on addressing accessibility gaps, expanding infrastructure, and advancing multimodal solutions to meet modern demands and improve mobility, affordability, and sustainability.
This report looks at the following areas:
- Household vehicle ownership
- Purchase intent and decision making responsibility
- Transportation method experience and future interest
- Important factors when choosing how to get somewhere
- Future transportation behaviors, interest in autonomy, and personal vehicle ownership
- Attitudes towards the future of transportation
The road ahead for transportation is electrified, shared, and personalized – driven by sustainability and demand for seamless mobility solutions.
Gabe Sanchez, Automotive Analyst
-
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- What you need to know
- Market predictions
- What consumers want & why
- What consumers want & why (cont’d)
- Opportunities
- Driving the shift: maintaining convenience of personal vehicles
- Develop urban transportation hubs
- Develop or improve rewards programs
- Develop sustainable commuter packs
- Provide personalized adventures, scenic routes
-
MARKET DYNAMICS
- Market context
- Market drivers
- Consumer sentiment reached an eight-month high
- Graph 1: consumer sentiment index, 2022-24
- Annual inflation slightly rose in November
- Graph 2: headline CPI and core CPI, 2021-24
- Prices of new and used vehicles remain elevated
- Average age of vehicles on the road continues to increase
-
CONSUMER INSIGHTS
- Consumer fast facts
- Household vehicle ownership
- Most households have at least one vehicle…
- Graph 3: number of vehicles in household, by age, 2024
- …with continued consolidation…
- Graph 4: number of vehicles in household, 2020-24
- …across various areas
- Graph 5: single car households, by area, 2020-24
- Purchase intent and responsibility
- Men drive short-term purchasing interest…
- Graph 6: vehicle purchase intent timing, by gender, 2024
- …and possess additional responsibilities
- Graph 7: vehicle purchase responsibility, by gender, 2024
- Younger consumers indicate interest in short-term purchasing…
- Graph 8: vehicle purchase intent timing, by age, 2024
- …and indicate greater responsibility
- Graph 9: vehicle purchase responsibility, by age, 2024
- Black consumers indicate short-term purchasing interest…
- Graph 10: vehicle purchase intent timing, Black consumers vs overall, 2024
- …and heightened responsibility
- Graph 11: vehicle purchase responsibility, Black consumers vs overall, 2024
- Help consumers find their match
- Personal vehicle usage and future interest
- “Dude, where’s my car?”
- Personal vehicles remain important…
- Graph 12: personal vehicle experience, 2024
- …due to their convenience and reliability
- Graph 13: attitudes toward personal cars (% agree), by age, 2024
- Younger consumers gravitate to personal vehicles…
- Graph 14: personal vehicle experience (more vs same), by age, 2024
- …with some concerns
- Graph 15: attitudes toward personal vehicle ownership (% agree), by age, 2024
- Multicultural consumers value personal vehicles
- Graph 16: personal vehicle experience, by race, 2024
- Motorcycle and moped usage and future interest
- Motorcycles display niche appeal, usage
- Graph 17: motorcycle and moped experience, 2024
- Navigating consumers’ interest in motorcycles
- Rev up the next generation
- Graph 18: motorcycle and moped experience, by age, 2024
- Harley-Davidson highlights exploration and personalization
- City streets: steering the urban opportunity
- Graph 19: motorcycle and moped experience, by area, 2024
- Micromobility usage and future interest
- Rolling past doubts: improve perceptions of micromobility
- Pedaling (and pushing) micromobility usage
- Graph 20: micromobility usage in the past year, 2024
- Younger consumers drive micromobility use
- Graph 21: micromobility usage in the past year, by age, 2024
- Empower older adults with motorized bicycles
- Graph 22: motorized bicycle usage, by motorized bicycle user and age, 2024
- Graph 23: traditional bicycle usage, by traditional bicycle user and age, 2024
- Consumers think sustainably
- Graph 24: attitudes toward alternate transportation – sustainability (% agree), by age, 2024
- Honda scoots further into micromobility
- Motorized bicycles and scooters are popular among younger consumers
- Graph 25: motorized scooter experience, by age, 2024
- Graph 26: motorized bicycle experience, by age, 2024
- Urban consumers drive the usage of micromobility
- Black consumers call for more bike lanes
- E-bike incentives power affordable sustainability
- Still a place for traditional mobility options
- Graph 27: traditional scooter experience, by age, 2024
- Graph 28: traditional bicycle experience, by age, 2024
- Understanding bike and scooter usage
- Alternate transportation usage and future interest
- Younger consumers are open to new services
- Graph 29: attitudes toward alternate transportation – openness (% agree), by age, 2024
- Multicultural consumers are open to new services
- Graph 30: attitudes toward alternate transportation – openness (% agree), by race, 2024
- Ways to reach multicultural consumers
- Ridesharing leads alternate transportation methods
- Graph 31: alternate transportation used in the past past year, 2024
- Ridesharing popular is among men
- Graph 32: ridesharing usage in the past year, by age and gender, 2024
- Lyft introduces Women+ Connect
- Ridesharing is strong among younger consumers
- Graph 33: attitudes toward ridesharing (% agree), by age, 2024
- Driving growth through inclusion and urban accessibility
- Graph 34: ridesharing experience and future interest, by race, 2024
- Black consumers value ridesharing
- Celebrate community through cultural-driven connections
- Urban consumers drive taxi usage
- Public transportation popular among men…
- Graph 35: public transportation usage in the past year, by age and gender, 2024
- … and multicultural consumers
- Graph 36: public transportation usage in the past year, by race, 2024
- Consumers call for changes to public transportation
- Graph 37: attitudes toward public transportation (% agree), by age, 2024
- Younger consumers drive interest in rental cars
- Graph 38: rental car usage in the past year, by age, 2024
- Black consumers gravitate towards rental cars
- Graph 39: rental car usage in the past year, by race, 2024
- Car sharing grows as a popular alternative
- Graph 40: car sharing usage in the past year, by age and gender, 2024
- Turo promotes tailored experiences
- New work life balance draws consideration of car sharing
- Graph 41: car sharing experience and future interest, by employment and work from home status, 2024
- New work life balance draws consideration of car sharing
- Graph 42: car sharing usage in the past year, by work from home status, 2024
- Bicycle and scooter sharing drives usage
- Graph 43: bicycle and scooter sharing usage in the past year, by age and gender, 2024
- Important factors
- Consumers consider multiple factors when choosing to get somewhere
- Graph 44: important factors when choosing how to get somewhere (any rank), 2024
- Women prioritize safety above all else
- Ridesharing companies keep safety top of mind
- Bridging generational gaps in transportation priorities and expectations
- Graph 45: important factors when choosing how to get somewhere (any rank), by age, 2024
- Zero Fare for Better Air
- Understanding diverse transportation considerations
- Graph 46: important factors when choosing how to get somewhere (any rank), Black consumers vs overall, 2024
- Philadelphia pushes for “fare” transit
- Certain factors stand out among parents
- Graph 47: important factors when choosing how to get somewhere (any rank), by parental status, 2024
- Transportation services aimed at parents
- Future transportation behavior
- Personal cars are valued
- Graph 48: future transportation behavior in the next six months – personal cars, by age, 2024
- Position alternate transportation as a compliment to personal vehicle ownership
- Consumers consider alternatives
- Graph 49: health-related future transportation behavior in the next six months, by age, 2024
- Nike leans into urban mobility
- Shaping the future of commuting: health and innovation
- Graph 50: purchasing an individual method of transportation other than a car in the next six months, by age and gender, 2024
- Graph 51: choosing healthier commuting options in the next six months, by age and gender, 2024
- Men are more conscious of affordability, convenience
- Graph 52: future transportation behavior in the next six months – alternate transportation, by gender, 2024
- Working situation influences consumers’ interests
- Attitudes toward self-driving
- Younger consumers consider autonomy…
- Graph 53: attitudes toward autonomy – openness (% agree), by age, 2024
- … across gender
- Graph 54: attitudes toward autonomy – openness (% agree), by gender, 2024
- Companies continue to work toward a new future
- Tesla highlights the future of autonomous mobility
- “Are we there yet?”
- Interest is met with (some) concern…
- Graph 55: attitudes toward autonomy – concerns (% agree), by age, 2024
- …across gender
- Graph 56: attitudes toward autonomy – concerns (% agree), by gender, 2024
- Attitudes toward alternate transportation
- Younger consumers propel the shift to modern solutions
- Graph 57: attitudes toward alternate transportation – future (% agree), by age, 2024
- Porsche offers vehicle membership program
- … and multicultural consumers
- Graph 58: attitudes toward alternate transportation – future (% agree), by race, 2024
-
COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES
- Uber redefines transportation advertising with programmatic media buying on journey ads
- Lyft accelerates sustainability with Green Mode expansion
- Uber launches teen accounts
- Lyft drives inclusivity and safety with Women+ connect
- Tesla introduces Robotaxi
- Auto manufacturers consider micromobility
- Public transit systems drive sustainability and accessibility
-
APPENDIX
- Consumer research questions
- Consumer research methodology
- Generations
- Abbreviations and terms
Why Choose Mintel?
Mintel is the world’s leading market intelligence agency. We show you how consumers think today and tomorrow. As a trusted partner to industry leaders, we deliver game-changing insights to businesses across the globe, fuelling their marketing and innovation strategies that will shape the future.
Access high-quality market research with every purchase of Mintel’s consumer reports. Here’s what else is included in your report purchase:
- Multiple Report Formats: Mintel’s reports are available in PDF and PPT formats, and are delivered straight to your inbox, so you can easily share Mintel’s market intelligence.
- Access to Mintel’s Clients Portal: After your purchase is completed, you’ll receive an invitation to join Mintel’s Clients Portal, providing instant access to supplementary insights from Mintel’s industry experts.
- Interactive Databook: Mintel’s bespoke consumer data is presented as an interactive website, so you can deep dive into your chosen topic, explore demographics and download specific statistics.
- Custom Presentation Tool: Easily incorporate selected research data and analysis into a tailor-made presentation to win over clients and stakeholders.
Take a look at a sample PDF report below:
- Instant access when you pay by credit card
- Save up to 20% when you purchase multiple reports
Is this report right for you?
From consumer reports to customised growth strategies. We have an option to suit your business requirements.
Find out morePopular Related Reports
Global Outlook on Sustainability: A Consumer Study 2024-25
£ 5,000 – £ 21,600
Mintel’s 2024-25 Global Outlook on Sustainability: A Consumer Study is designed to help you understand what brands and companies should prioritise in order to educate consumers and ensure...
Find out moreUS Role of Transportation Market Report 2023
£ 3,695
“Current economic and automotive market conditions have presented some challenges for car ownership, driving some consumers to turn to alternate means of transportation. As consumers return to pre-pandemic...
Find out moreUS Vacation Plans and Priorities Consumer Report 2025
£ 3,695
As in 2024, 84% of consumers plan to take a vacation in the coming year. While a steady share may be interpreted as stagnant growth, this high intent...
Find out moreUS Theme Park Vacations Market Report 2024
£ 3,695
Americans continue to visit theme parks, but high prices complicate the decision to visit one. They aren't spurning parks – industry revenue is up and guests report crowds...
Find out moreUS Vacation Activities Consumer Report 2024
£ 3,695
Just as many vacationers take a DIY approach to vacation planning, they take a similar tact when it comes to vacation activities. That is to say, 43% of...
Find out moreUS Sustainability in Travel Market Report 2024
£ 3,695
Human activity have caused global temperatures to rise, causing disruption to Earth's ecosystems and the lives of its inhabitants. The need to rapidly address the problem persists, even...
Find out moreTrusted by global industry leaders
Is this report right for you?
From consumer reports to customised growth strategies. We have an option to suit your business requirements.
Find out more