Conti Study: Mobility Should Be Affordable and Sustainable

People are increasingly concerned about the affordability of their mobility. This is one of the key findings of the 2022 Mobility Study published by the Hanover-based technology corporation and supplier Continental. Generally high inflation rates and, above all, the rapidly rising energy prices threaten to slow down the mobility transition in Germany from the company's perspective. Sustainability in close connection with cars is becoming increasingly relevant for the majority of German citizens. Accordingly, 44 percent of Germans surveyed in the study believe that the future of mobility will be electric. However, in light of the high prices for electricity, gasoline, and diesel fuel, environmentally friendly mobility is not currently a priority for a narrow majority of people in Germany. In addition, more than half of those surveyed in Germany stated that they could no longer afford to drive a car if the gasoline price rises to €2.80 per liter.

No willingness to pay more for an eco-car

The issue of costs also concerns people when switching to climate-friendly mobility: Half of those surveyed are not willing to spend more on an environmentally friendly vehicle than on a conventional car. At the same time, almost every second person (43 percent) cites high costs as a reason against purchasing an electric vehicle in particular. Therefore, the vast majority believes that the state should do more – such as through subsidies – to increase the share of emission-free vehicles, but above all, to keep mobility affordable overall. The creation of the necessary framework conditions is seen as a responsibility of politics – this expectation is clearly expressed by people in the mobility study.

“The mobility study has been an important radar for more than a decade for the global development of mobility trends and the acceptance of new technologies. The results of the current study show: Worldwide, people want automotive driving to become safer, more comfortable, and more sustainable. But it must remain affordable above all,” explains Nikolai Setzer, CEO of Continental.

The representative mobility study was conducted by the supplier together with the renowned market research institute infas for the seventh time. For this purpose, infas surveyed 1,000 citizens in Germany, France, Norway, the USA, Japan, and China each, aged between 18 and 70, in May 2022 about their individual mobility needs and their travel and leisure behavior.

Sharply rising electricity costs and lack of knowledge as hurdles to e-mobility

The study identifies costs and still incomplete infrastructure as hurdles to stronger demand for environmentally friendly mobility – specifically for electromobility. Around two-thirds of survey participants in Germany do not feel sufficiently informed about the acquisition and running costs of an electric car. Sixty-seven percent are unsure about purchasing an electric vehicle due to sharply rising electricity costs. As a result, a majority (62 percent) assume that they will not be able to afford an electric vehicle in the near future.

Ecologically and Socially Correct, but Not More Expensive

The majority of respondents consider it important or even very important that the materials used in cars are environmentally friendly and sustainable, and that social standards and human rights are upheld in production and throughout the supply chain. However, a large portion is not willing to pay a surcharge for the use of reused or recycled materials in the vehicle. The same applies to the use of fuels, which, like green hydrogen, are produced with renewable energy.

People Want More Financial Help and Regulation from the State

In general, the overwhelming majority of respondents (73 percent) are concerned that mobility will no longer be affordable for them due to increased energy costs. More than four out of five respondents (82 percent) therefore believe that the state should ensure that mobility remains affordable. At the same time, 77 percent believe it is the state's responsibility to ensure that environmentally friendly mobility is cheaper compared to environmentally harmful concepts.

Example Norway: The State Can Intervene

The study results for Norway, included in the mobility study for the first time, show that the state can take an active steering role. In the Scandinavian country, the government promotes the acquisition of electrically powered cars with a range of tax benefits and additional information campaigns. This way, the Norwegian government supports the market penetration of electric drives, which is also reflected in the study results: Among those surveyed, the share of electric or hybrid vehicles at 26 percent is higher than in the five comparison countries. However, as in other European countries, there is still a need for improvement in sustainable drive concepts in Norway: The share of vehicles with diesel engines in the Scandinavian country, which is repeatedly cited as a pioneer in electromobility, was 41 percent – compared to 46 percent in France.

"The 2022 Mobility Study shows that people want the initiated transformation towards low-emission or emission-free mobility and are ready to follow this path," says Steffen Schwartz-Höfler, Head of Sustainability at Continental, interpreting the results. "At the same time, the global tenor in the survey results of this year's Continental Mobility Study shows that private consumers do not want to bear the financial burdens of the mobility transition alone. Therefore, if this endeavor is to succeed at the necessary pace, new sustainable mobility forms must be affordable. Only then will they also be positively accepted."