Car sharing unlocked
The number of cars in Europe is set to decline as car sharing triggers a 'peak car' moment. Platforms and technology developments are encouraging more people to see car sharing as a viable option, but there are still substantial barriers to growth
Executive summary
Car sharing is gaining interest across Europe, particularly in major cities, but faces several barriers on the road to success. The user experience needs to improve to make car sharing more straightforward in order to gain demand. On the supply side, platforms and technology development will help generate trust among car owners to share. Only when the owners of cars are prepared to share their cars will car sharing be able to exploit its potential.
Our growth scenario leads to a 7.5 million shared car fleet in Europe in 2035, up from an estimated 370,000 currently. Our analysis suggests that the take-up of car sharing will ultimately lead to a peak car moment, at which point the total number of cars in Europe will fall and new car sales will also decline. Car manufacturers can take a leading role in car sharing by creating their own peer-to-peer platforms and utilise their existing customer network.
In this report, we look at:
- The state of car sharing in Europe, noting its growing fast but it's still a niche market
- The high potential that's triggering expansion
- How car sharing competes with car ownership and other transport services
- The barriers to car sharing, including costs
- What policymakers can do to improve cost competitiveness
- How autonomous cars can help the user experience
- The high growth potential
- How platforms and technology are unlocking demand and supply
- How we could soon see 'peak car'
- Why car manufacturers need a platform strategy
Download
Download report
5 October 2018
In case you missed it: Finding the silver lining This bundle contains 9 articles"THINK Outside" is a collection of specially commissioned content from third-party sources, such as economic think-tanks and academic institutions, that ING deems reliable and from non-research departments within ING. ING Bank N.V. ("ING") uses these sources to expand the range of opinions you can find on the THINK website. Some of these sources are not the property of or managed by ING, and therefore ING cannot always guarantee the correctness, completeness, actuality and quality of such sources, nor the availability at any given time of the data and information provided, and ING cannot accept any liability in this respect, insofar as this is permissible pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations.
This publication does not necessarily reflect the ING house view. This publication has been prepared solely for information purposes without regard to any particular user's investment objectives, financial situation, or means. The information in the publication is not an investment recommendation and it is not investment, legal or tax advice or an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any financial instrument. Reasonable care has been taken to ensure that this publication is not untrue or misleading when published, but ING does not represent that it is accurate or complete. ING does not accept any liability for any direct, indirect or consequential loss arising from any use of this publication. Unless otherwise stated, any views, forecasts, or estimates are solely those of the author(s), as of the date of the publication and are subject to change without notice.
The distribution of this publication may be restricted by law or regulation in different jurisdictions and persons into whose possession this publication comes should inform themselves about, and observe, such restrictions.
Copyright and database rights protection exists in this report and it may not be reproduced, distributed or published by any person for any purpose without the prior express consent of ING. All rights are reserved.
ING Bank N.V. is authorised by the Dutch Central Bank and supervised by the European Central Bank (ECB), the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) and the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). ING Bank N.V. is incorporated in the Netherlands (Trade Register no. 33031431 Amsterdam).