US Future of Transportation Report 2025
"The future of mobility is here, and it's being redefined around people, not just vehicles."
Gabe Sanchez, Senior Automotive Analyst
Despite significant macroeconomic strain affecting household budgets, consumer appetite for innovation remains remarkably strong. A surprising 72% of Americans report a willingness to try new modes of transportation, signaling a clear demand for more flexible, cost-effective, and convenient travel solutions. This readiness for change creates a dynamic environment where traditional models of vehicle ownership are being challenged by a diverse array of emerging mobility services.
Current economic conditions, including a persistent 3% inflation rate and 4.4% unemployment, are directly impacting the industry. These factors are contributing to a slowdown in big-ticket purchases like new cars, forcing consumers to reconsider their spending. In response, the market is seeing a strategic shift in investment. Capital is flowing away from traditional manufacturing and toward the development of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and the advancement of autonomous technology for public transit, as companies pivot to meet the growing demand for more affordable and efficient transportation options.
Looking ahead, the greatest opportunity for the industry lies in creating integrated, affordable, and sustainable mobility ecosystems that combine various transport modes to serve consumer needs seamlessly. However, realizing this potential requires overcoming a significant threat: the consumer trust gap. Widespread concerns about the safety of autonomous technologies and the privacy of personal data collected by mobility platforms could stall adoption. Building public confidence through transparent communication, proven safety records, and robust data protection will be critical to unlocking the future of transportation.
This report looks at the following areas:
- Economic headwinds reshaping consumer transportation spend and modal choices
- Generational and cultural divides in adoption of shared, micro- and autonomous mobility
- Safety, cost and cleanliness as primary decision drivers – and brand implications
- Market forecast to 2030: impact of EV, autonomous tech and subscription models
- Innovation spotlights: hydrogen, eVTOLs, robotaxis and retail/brand collaborations
Market Definitions
For the purposes of this Report, Mintel has used the following definitions:
This Report analyzes the future of transportation, including: personal cars, public transportation, ride sharing, taxis, car sharing, bicycle/scooter sharing, traditional bicycles, motorized bicycles, motorcycles/mopeds, rental cars, motorized scooters and traditional scooters.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- What you need to know
- Outlook for transportation
- Opportunities
- Access-over-ownership eco-systems
- Democratizing sustainable mobility: meeting demand for affordable, accessible evolutions
- Looking ahead
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THE MARKET
- Snapshot – market size and forecast
- Market context
- Impact on the future of transportation
- Market size and forecast for transportation
- Market size and forecast of transportation
- Graph 1: total consumer spending on transportation, at current prices, 2019-30
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THE CONSUMER
- Transportation use
- Gender divide in mobility: a roadblock to innovation?
- Graph 2: transportation experience (% used), by gender, 2025
- Beyond the car: unlocking equitable transportation for diverse communities
- Graph 3: transportation experience (% used), by race and ethnicity, 2025
- Young consumers are changing lanes
- Graph 4: transportation experience (% used), by age, 2025
- From point A to B: rethinking transportation for a new generation
- Active users are pushing these solutions further
- Graph 5: “I am using this method more than I did a year ago”, by age, 2025
- Crossing tracks: when retail meets transportation
- Driving innovation and connections
- Graph 6: attitudes toward public transportation (% agree), by age, 2025
- Graph 7: attitudes toward ridesharing (% agree), by age, 2025
- Brand opportunities in transportation
- Important factors when choosing transportation
- Age-driven factors: shaping the future of mobility
- Graph 8: factors when choosing how to get somewhere (% any rank), by age, 2025
- The enduring appeal of personal transportation
- Graph 9: attitudes toward personal transportation (% agree), by age, 2025
- How safety, cost and cleanliness shape multicultural mobility choices
- Graph 10: factors when choosing how to get somewhere (% any rank), by race and ethnicity, 2025
- Where priorities are being addressed…
- …and how brands can find ways to get involved
- Driving into the future
- Younger consumers are all aboard
- Men are driving enthusiasm for self-driving cars
- Graph 11: autonomous vehicles (% agree), by gender, 2025
- Grounded or sky-high? How men and women view the future of transportation
- Graph 12: emerging transportation (% agree), by gender, 2025
- How brands can champion safer roads
- Ahead of the curve: brands and the future of mobility
- Graph 13: autonomous vehicles (% agree), by age, 2025
- Buckle up for the future
- Beyond the road: future of transportation’s impact across industries
- Graph 14: emerging transportation (% agree), by age, 2025
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INNOVATION AND MARKETING
- Sky’s the limit: China’s race to own the flying car future
- Fueling the future: hydrogen cars driving zero-emission mobility
- “Waymo” autonomy on the way
- Tesla’s triple threat: affordability, autonomy and sustainability
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APPENDIX
- Definition
- The market
- Forecast methodology
- Forecast methodology – fan chart
- Market size and forecast of consumer spending on transportation
- The consumer
- Consumer research questions
- Consumer research methodology – US
- US generation groups
- Abbreviations and terms
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