Understanding New Vehicle Buyers in the Age of New Mobility

Abstract:

There is some research about the reduction in the number of young people who are refusing to get a driver’s license because of the prevalence of ride sharing and other new mobility options. This research leads authors to predict the reduction of vehicle purchases by young buyers in the future. We tested this assumption in our survey of nearly 3,000 University of Michigan undergraduates, as well as testing some of the previous research on Motives for Car Use. We also tested our hypothesis that students who know more about the automotive industry in terms of knowledge of auto company ownership, vehicle pricing, vehicle segments, and manufacturer reputations are more likely to report they would purchase a new vehicle after graduation. The results will show how students in the home of “The Motor City” think about car use, car purchasing, new mobility, and their motives for car use.