2024
9
US Future of Transportation Report 2024
2025-01-22T12:04:10+00:00
REP445D1CF6_D566_4DA3_B0AD_010B6B4E9570
3695
178944
[{"name":"Automotive","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/automotive"},{"name":"Market Intelligence Reports","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/report-type\/market-intelligence-reports"},{"name":"US","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/markets\/us-market-research"}]
Report
en_GB
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…
US
Automotive
simple

US Future of Transportation Report 2024

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.

Trusted by leading global brands

Amazon logo
Deutsch brand logo
waitrose
Bauer-Media-Group
mediacom-logo-e1438678858172 (1)
VML Logo
Epsilon Logo
VocaLink_Mastercard_logo-PNG-1
Amazon logo
Deutsch brand logo
waitrose
Bauer-Media-Group
mediacom-logo-e1438678858172 (1)
VML Logo
Epsilon Logo
VocaLink_Mastercard_logo-PNG-1
4.5 stars
Source: G2.com, Inc.
Collapse All
  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. APPENDIX

    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Generations
    • Abbreviations and terms
Download Report Summary

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

£ 3,695 excl. Tax
Secure direct checkout
Instant PDF download
Portal access included
Need help deciding? Get in touch

Trusted by global industry leaders

4.5 stars
Source: G2.com, Inc.
Amazon logo

Working in a customer-obsessed organization means that data and insights have to be at our fingertips. Mintel’s reports help us support anecdotes with real quantifiable insights. The summary sections (which I really like) helps save time by giving a birds eye view of the content before spending time combing through the pages.

Our business review discussions are strengthened by the relevancy of the reports to help us better understand our customers. In addition, the customer service received from the team (especially in crunch periods) makes the process of understanding customer behavior even better.

Ngozi Ngonadi-Nkwoji, Senior Marketing Manager, Amazon
Waitrose & Partners logo

We’ve found it so useful working more closely with Mintel. They helped support our recent flagship event for our top suppliers by providing a really unique viewpoint on the future of online retailing.

Nick Carroll from their Retail Team was also an excellent panelist, sharing useful and actionable consumer insights. We definitely look forward to working with Mintel again on future projects.

Zac Steele, E-Commerce Trading Development Manager, Waitrose & Partners
Tenth Wave logo

Mintel helps us when we want to know something quickly – it provides fast answers to our questions. If we need to get a view of what’s going on in a particular market it’s very useful.

When carrying out background research, I find Mintel an excellent starting point.

The fact that it covers so many markets is a big plus for me– instead of having to buy specialist products in each area we are interested in, especially when we only require a brief view on a particular market, we can go to Mintel for help as a one-stop shop. I find Mintel a useful and valuable resource.

Ben Zeidler, Director - Research and Analytics, Tenth Wave
Wincanton logo

When I’m investigating specific sectors I tend to use Mintel reports for their forecasting, which I’ve always found to be very accurate.

They also offer really broad and deep coverage in their reports. They are very, very detailed. For example, we were able to gain insight across a wide range of business areas from just one report, proving that Mintel is excellent value for money.

So overall, it’s the level of detail and the quality of forecasting that really stand out for me.

Rebecca Green, Market Insight Manager, Wincanton
Bauer Media Group logo

We have such a great working relationship with Mintel on lots of different levels. As an insight partner, they have helped us to develop our business planning in specific categories as well as supporting our creative process but they’ve also been super helpful with facilitating our events in their inspirational offices near St Paul’s.

They’re an innovative company, with a client-focused team that always delivers.

Abby Carvosso, Group Managing Director, Bauer Media Group
Deutsch logo

One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.

We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.

We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.

Jeff White, Business Development Director, Deutsch
Mediacom logo

Mintel is really good for getting a handle on a particular category quickly. If we are working on a new business pitch in an area we don’t have much experience in, it’s a brilliant way to get up to speed with what’s going on, what’s changing and what the key trends are in any category.

It’s very rare now that anyone will plough through a 200-page report – that’s why the summaries are really useful. We know they are backed up by a lot of detail, so if you need to go into something in more depth you know the information will be all there for you.

Pauline Robson, Managing Partner, Mediacom
Abacus logo

There is no question that Mintel is the go-to resource for the best quality market research, but I did not think it was an affordable option for Abacus Marketing to consider. As a small marketing agency, we only work with a few new clients each year.

However, we have a very high-end consultative approach to our work, so we really do need a partner like Mintel to provide the big agency experience we are always aiming to deliver. Our clients come from an incredibly diverse range of industry sectors, so we obviously need access to market research reports from a very wide spectrum of marketplaces – and that is precisely what we got.

Stephen Taylor-Brown, Managing Director, Abacus
Epsilon logo

We utilize Mintel Reports, Trends and Comperemedia to mine for insights across the numerous business verticals that Epsilon serves, such as CPG, automotive, telecom, healthcare/pharma, retail and financial services.

By integrating Mintel insight into new business opportunities, we have been able to gain the competitive edge necessary to advance partnerships with global brands and key business players.

For our organization, it’s about depth and breadth. Having one without the other doesn’t enable success in our business.

Virginia Harvey, Secondary Research Manager, Epsilon
VML logo

We use Mintel to inform our thinking and reinforce strategy. If you’re presenting new ideas, it’s essential they are underpinned by robust data and evidence, and clearly rooted in fact.

Mintel gives us all that. It’s a great brand and one that is trusted by clients.

Marie Stafford, European Director, The Innovation Group, VML
Jackman logo

At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.

Alana Gavin, VP Research and Insights, Jackman
VocaLink logo

We use Mintel Reports, mostly for financial services and ecommerce markets, plus a few retail and technology ones.

As a leading payments provider, we value additional insights into consumer behaviour, opinions and trends that are shaping the many different markets we operate in. Mintel is a very good and very quick way for us to obtain those insights.

We use Mintel to get a view on where a particular market is going, which can support us in product development and help us identify opportunities or indeed risks, it is a very useful barometer of a market’s potential.

 

Andrew Neeson, Market Intelligence Manager, VocaLink