If you are interested in a career in the automotive industry, you might wonder what the future of vehicular transportation holds. In an age of technological advancements, transportation preferences have evolved as alternative and diverse mobility methods and services have gained widespread acceptance, and at times, even preference over owning a private vehicle.
The rise of a global pandemic occurring within the era of a technological boom only accelerated shifting attitudes regarding traditional mobility. Now, more than ever, and particularly in large cities, the use of e-hailing, car sharing, and subscription services has increased exponentially. As technology continues to progress, some believe that these alternatives in addition to driverless cars and mass transit may tip the scale in preference, forever transforming the conventional realm of transportation.
Read on to learn more about the concept of diverse mobility and the effects it could have on the automotive industry.
What is Diverse Mobility?
Privately owned automobiles have been the preferred method of transportation since the 1920s when mass-produced vehicles first become publicly available. The luxury and convenience of owning a car outweighed all other factors… until now.
Diverse mobility is a concept that encompasses social, environmental, and economic outcomes in our movement patterns. It is the belief that the commonly held ideal of traditional private transportation is reinventing itself due to the influence of technology. If you are interested in automotive school, you might be curious to know what this concept envisions as the future of transportation.
Diverse mobility sees trends moving toward autonomous private and mass transit experiences, shared carpool and e-hailing service platforms like Uber, and subscription-based usership rather than the ownership of vehicles.
Diversity in Ownership is a Cultural Shift Already Seen Across Other Industries
Netflix and Spotify are two very popular examples of subscription-based models that emphasize the changing attitude of the public concerning usership over ownership. Other prevalent examples of usership over ownership include real estate rental services like Airbnb, and even designer clothing rental services. This shift in attitude does not correlate to monetary savings, as sometimes users spend more monthly than they would if they didn’t have access to these services. Rather, it shows a shift in cultural attitudes and expectations that consumers have regarding the value of access over ownership.
Automotive Consumers Have Already Started Moving Towards Diverse Mobility
With the rise of concerns about the negative impact of car emissions on the environment, in addition to the over congestion of cars on the road and prolonged travel commute times in big cities, positive changes in attitudes towards diverse mobility have formed over time. Electric cars, car-pooling, car-sharing, and using public transportation have become accepted alternative choices, especially for environmentally conscious consumers.
What Does This Mean for Auto Careers?
As much as the concept of diverse mobility is gaining acceptance and popularity, the dominating viewpoint is that although consumers may be more open to alternative forms of mobility, private vehicular sales will continue to remain prevalent.
It is no doubt that new technologies will replace older ones, and a shift will be needed by the automotive industry and those in auto careers to keep up with evolving consumer standards and expectations.
In addition, the growing number of cars that are purchased for the purpose of diverse mobility will undoubtedly require more repairs or be replaced sooner than traditional vehicles as they will face increased mileage and general wear and tear quicker than the average car.
No matter what the outcome, those interested in a career in the automotive industry can rest assured that they will continue to be in high demand.
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