PwC study: Carsharing loses in crisis

According to an analysis by consulting firm PwC and its subsidiary Strategy&, both public transport (ÖPNV) and carsharing have seen a significant decline in popularity during the COVID-19 crisis, as reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The study reveals that 77 percent of respondents said they would continue to use shared vehicles less frequently even after government restrictions are eased. This is likely also due to hygienic concerns. Similar results were observed for the use of taxis. Germans are currently turning away from shared mobility, notes Barbara Lenz, Director of the Institute for Transport Research in Berlin, speaking to the SZ. Additionally, companies have imposed stricter regulations on the use of carsharing by their employees for business trips.

However, PwC analysts believe the decline in carsharing is a temporary trend and forecast growth in the medium term. While six percent of all trips this year have been made using rental cars of various kinds, this share could rise to ten percent by 2025 and 16 percent by 2030. Even the BMW-Daimler joint venture FreeNow, which has recently been skeptical regarding margins, expects better prospects. The company is making money with the mobility model in an increasing number of cities, and carsharing is seen as one of the winners, explained BMW's Chief Financial Officer Nicolas Peter. PwC believes that more frequent use of shared mobility will depend on thorough cleaning protocols, high availability, and lower prices.

ShareNow Analysis: Carsharing Loses Less Than Public Transport and Shifts Usage

Share Now itself, which claims to be the market leader in free-floating carsharing, along with the consulting and research company Mobility Institute Berlin, abbreviated as mib, had already examined the role of carsharing during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in a joint paper released in October. The results of this investigation showed that carsharing demand was less affected by the crisis compared to public transport demand. According to the authors, the reason for this is that carsharing gives people short-term access to a mobility option perceived as low-risk—the car—without needing long-term commitment to a private vehicle. Additionally, there was a noticeable shift in carsharing use to urban outskirts and away from peak times.