Description
Understand the changing role of transportation in the US with Mintel’s comprehensive market report. Our in-depth US transportation market analysis provides key insights on consumer attitudes toward transportation methods and future transport market opportunities. Inside the full report, you’ll be provided with consumer-led market intelligence that outlines the consumer trends and behaviours affecting your industry. Stay ahead of the curve with Mintel.
Our US Role of Transportation Report Delivers Insights On
- The impact of economic factors on consumers’ transportation habits.
- The usage of alternate transportation services and personal vehicles.
- The important factors for consumers when choosing transport methods.
- Consumer perceptions of various transportation methods.
The Role of Transportation in the US – Current Trends
Personal cars as popular as ever
Even though negative economic conditions are affecting the automotive industry, 81% of consumers used a personal car for transport in the last year. Personal cars also have the highest perception of convenience, reliability, and safety, suggesting that this popularity will sustain.
Younger consumers look to alternate transportation
60% of Gen Z and 59% of Millennials have used at least one alternate transportation service. Although personal cars remain the most popular mode of transport across age groups, use of ridesharing and public transport are also proving popular among younger consumers. Likely due to a combination of economic factors and lifestyle.
What’s Next for Transportation in the US?
While unlikely to take over personal vehicle ownership, nearly a quarter (23%) of consumers believe alternate transportation will be the most popular way for people to get around in the future – presenting a potential shift in what it may mean to own a personal vehicle in the future and our relationship with transportation overall.Â
As reported in Mintel’s Alternate Transportation Market Report, 72% of consumers who have used alternate transportation would be interested in using electric alternative transportation due to its sustainable credentials. This highlights an opportunity for brands, who will need to ensure they are promoting their sustainability efforts, particularly for transport services that are perceived as the least environmentally friendly.
To learn more about the transportation market in the US, purchase our full US Role of Transportation Market Report for information on key market drivers, consumer facts and opportunities for growth.
Transportation Methods Covered in this Report
Transportation methods:Â Personal car, Car sharing, Ridesharing, Docked bike/scooter sharing, Dockless bike/scooter sharing, Car rental, Taxis, Public Transport (e.g. bus, train).
Expert Analysis from a Specialist in the Industry
This report, written by Gabe Sanchez, a leading analyst in the Automotive sector, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight current trends in the US transportation industry and add expert context to the numbers.
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 activities, alternate methods of transportation will continue to play a valuable role, but will won’t replace the benefits of personal vehicle ownership.
Gabe Sanchez
Automotive Analyst
Table of Contents
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Overview
- What you need to know
- This Report looks at the following areas
- Definition
- Market context
- What you need to know
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Executive Summary
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- Top takeaways
- Consumer trends
- Younger consumers are the most likely to have used alternate transportation
- Figure 1: Alternate transportation usage, by generation, 2022
- Reliability, convenience and safety are core considerations among consumers
- Figure 2: Factors driving transportation choices, by generation, 2022
- Personal cars hold highest perceptions
- Figure 3: Perceptions of transportation modes, 2022
- Consumers look to transportation to maintain cleanliness practices
- Figure 4: Attitudes toward transportation – Cleanliness, by generation, 2022
- Millennials are most interested in new modes of transportation
- Figure 5: Attitudes toward transportation – Future, by generation, 2022
- Competitive strategies
- Auto brands leverage brand heritage, history
- Figure 6: Honda highlights its history and innovations
- Uber taps automakers for specialized vehicles
- Figure 7: Uber working with automakers to design lower-cost ridesharing vehicles
- Auto manufacturers look to alternate mobility
- Figure 8: Bugatti introduced its first electric scooter
- Market predictions
- Figure 9: Role of transportation outlook, 2023-28
- Opportunities
- Drive interest by offering month-to-month subscription programs for personal vehicles
- Position car sharing or car rentals as part of the experience; create experiences
- Promote sustainability efforts
- Develop partnerships with other services to improve perceptions, borrow equity
- Continue to improve and educate consumers on safety practices
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Market Drivers
- Consumer confidence, inflation and unemployment drive consumers to be more critical of their spending
- Figure 10: Consumer Sentiment Index and unemployment, 2000-23
- Gas prices could push consumers to alternate modes of transportation
- Figure 11: US gasoline and diesel retail prices, 2007-23
- Prices of new and used vehicles present barriers, driving consumers to affordable modes of transportation
- Figure 12: Consumer Price Index, new vehicles and used vehicles – Seasonally adjusted, 2018-23
- Emerging consumer segments present opportunities transportation industry
- Figure 13: Population, by generation, 2017-27
- Figure 14: Population by race and Hispanic origin, 2017-27
- E-BIKE tax credit proposed
- Consumer confidence, inflation and unemployment drive consumers to be more critical of their spending
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Competitive Strategies and Market Opportunities
- Auto brands leverage history, personal connection to drive interest in personal vehicle ownership
- The opportunity: Leverage long-standing expertise to create an emotional connection
- Figure 15: Honda highlights its history and innovations
- Uber taps auto manufacturers to develop ridesharing vehicles
- The opportunity: Introduce new offerings to drive interest, improve service
- Figure 16: Uber working with automakers to design lower-cost ridesharing vehicles
- Auto manufacturers invest in electric scooters, bikes
- The opportunity: Introduce consumers to the brand with affordable, new offerings
- Figure 17: Bugatti introduced its first electric scooter
- Car-free communities emerge
- The opportunity: Leverage the emergence of car-free communities
- Figure 18: Community with car-free zones announced in Houston area
- Consumers’ interest in personalization highlights opportunity
- Position car sharing or car rentals as part of the experience
- Auto brands leverage history, personal connection to drive interest in personal vehicle ownership
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The Consumer – Fast Facts
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Methods of Transportation Used
- Younger consumers are driven to various modes of alternate transportation
- Figure 19: Alternate transportation usage, by generation, 2022
- Women look to their personal vehicles; public transportation must improve perceptions
- Figure 20: Lyft highlights safety checklist
- Figure 21: Alternate transportation usage, by gender, 2022
- Access drives usage for consumers across areas
- Figure 22: Alternate transportation usage, by area, 2022
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- Figure 23: Attitudes toward personal vehicles – Benefits, by area, 2022
- Multicultural consumers gravitate to alternate transportation
- Figure 24: Alternate transportation usage, by race and Hispanic origin, 2022
- Younger consumers are driven to various modes of alternate transportation
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Choosing How to Get Somewhere
- Reliability, convenience and safety are core factors driving transportation choices
- Figure 25: Factors driving transportation choices, by generation, 2022
- Consumers won’t compromise core factors, regardless of financial stability
- Figure 26: CTA highlights short and long term transit passes
- Figure 27: Factors driving transportation choices, by financial situation, 2022
- Hispanic, Black consumers prioritize price and convenience equally
- Figure 28: MBTA highlights delay and speed limit reports
- Figure 29: Factors driving transportation choices, by race and Hispanic origin, 2022
- Reliability, convenience and safety are core factors driving transportation choices
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Perceptions of Transportation Methods
- Personal cars lead in terms of perceptions; alternate mobility provides an opportunity
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- Figure 30: Mercedes-Benz highlights a commitment to recycled materials
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- Figure 31: Automakers introduce last-mile transportation offerings
- Figure 32: Perceptions of transportation modes, 2022
- Ridesharing challenges public transportation in terms of consumers’ perceptions
- Figure 33: Perceptions of transportation modes – Shared, 2022
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- Figure 34: Perceptions of transportation modes – Shared, by gender, 2022
- Car sharing services have room to grow in terms of perceptions
- Figure 35: Perceptions of transportation modes – Personal, 2022
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- Figure 36: Perceptions of transportation modes – Personal, by generation, 2022
- Personal cars lead in terms of perceptions; alternate mobility provides an opportunity
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Attitudes toward Transportation
- Consumers are interested in cleanliness practices, policies
- Figure 37: Attitudes toward transportation – Cleanliness, by generation, 2022
- Millennials are most open to new modes of alternate transportation
- Figure 38: Attitudes toward transportation – Future, by generation, 2022
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- Figure 39: Attitudes toward personal vehicles – Benefits, by generation, 2022
- Multicultural consumers look to the future
- Figure 40: Attitudes toward transportation – Future, by race and Hispanic origin, 2022
- Consumers’ feelings toward personal vehicles vary
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- Figure 41: Attitudes toward personal vehicles – Feelings, by generation, 2022
- Consumers are interested in cleanliness practices, policies
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Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
- Data sources
- Consumer survey data
- Consumer qualitative research
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Data sources
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