While global vehicle traffic has reached a record high of 254.4 billion miles in 2017, with van and cars recording the highest increase and coaches and buses seeing the largest decrease, it seems in any case a statistic we won’t see again for some time. With regards to the future patterns of traffic and transportation, experts predict that the stress will be put on vehicle usage rather than ownership, with a consequent shift to mobility solutions consumed as services (MaaS), where the key concept is to offer mobility solutions tailored for the travelling needs, both of businesses and end users.
The rise in technology of self-driving vehicles is responsible for this disruption of the system, where we will be (fleets included) supposed to choose options involving autonomous cars or even ride hailing services) instead of traditionally using a vehicle from a starting point to reach a destination. But this is probably not the only factor influencing the change in trend.
According to insights shared from KPMG’s Mobility 2030, the number applying for a driving licence among those aged between 17 and 20 has fallen from 50% to 33% in the UK (data confirmed by the Department of Transport) and vehicle ownership will gradually lose its importance in favour of passenger miles.
Overall, vehicle ownership has obviously grown dramatically over the past decades as very few users could have access to vehicles in 1950s, while during the last years the percentage of those accessing vehicles has plateaued at around 77% in 2016. But with the technological innovations we are starting to experience now, the shift is likely to be on finding alternatives to vehicle ownership, though not everything is supposed to be based on simple car sharing or similar for everyone. Vehicles will still be key in mobility, but maybe your fleet will not necessarily own them.
What has also become part of the trend lately is that the vehicle, for both end users and professional drivers, has an initial status of indicating freedom of movement, though the attention has actually shifted on the need for companies and users to keep vehicles roadworthy and to drive safely to avoid collisions which seems somehow less “appealing” for those who drive for pleasure, but is at the same time necessary for those who hit the road for work—hence the development of safe driving technologies or the struggle towards innovation such as autonomous vehicles, which in an ideal and future world should guarantee safety and eliminate vehicle accidents.
What do you think will be the scenarios for fleets, and will they no longer be owning vehicles?
