As the world is being rapidly reshaped by technology, so is urban transportation. Consumers are increasingly looking to share rather than own, and the landscape of urban mobility is changing rapidly in response. A recent report published by McKinsey, titled “Consumer pull: The growth of shared urban mobility,” delves into this shift, suggesting there’s a multibillion-dollar opportunity waiting for industry players who can successfully tap into consumer needs.
In this blog post, we take a closer look at the key insights of this report and discuss how they relate to the services provided by SWITCH.
Consumer Pulse on Mobility
According to McKinsey’s Mobility Consumer Pulse Survey, urban mobility patterns remain car-centered for many consumers, but there is an evident change on the horizon. As sustainability gains prominence and the feasibility of shared mobility increases, consumers are considering a significant reduction in their private vehicle usage.
For instance, more than a quarter of urban respondents are considering ditching their private vehicles completely. The preference for shared mobility options is even stronger among urban consumers, with less than 15% of rural respondents contemplating the same change.
The report also sheds light on three major modes of transport likely to cause disruption: shared autonomous shuttles, micromobility solutions (like e-kickscooters, electric mopeds, and bicycles), and minimobility alternatives, such as L6 and L7 (electric vehicles with three or four wheels, an unladen mass over 100 kg, and capacity for one to two passengers).
The Promise of Shared Autonomous Shuttles
The report indicates that 60% of global mobility users surveyed are open to using a shared autonomous shuttle service in the future. Additionally, 42% of respondents willing to use this new mode of transport suggest it could replace their private car trips. The key to their popularity? They can address major urban mobility challenges, such as congestion, parking, air pollution, traffic fatalities, and more, without cannibalizing the city’s existing public transit infrastructure.
Micromobility’s Rise
Micromobility solutions, like e-scooters and e-bikes, have gained substantial traction among urban dwellers for their sustainability and convenience. The survey suggests this trend will continue, with a third of urban mobility users planning to use micromobility more frequently in the future. Moreover, 37% of urban respondents believe improved micromobility infrastructure is a crucial step towards their ideal mobility landscape.
The Emergence of Minimobility
An exciting new entrant into the urban mobility market is minimobility, encompassing vehicles like compact electric microcars. The report reveals that 27% of urban respondents would consider incorporating these vehicles into their future mobility mix, with many seeing them as viable replacements for their private cars.
SWITCH’s Role in this Evolving Landscape
At SWITCH – Street WITCHer, we’re already in the thick of this exciting transformation, pioneering the application of AI and machine learning in the management of shared mobility fleets. Our advanced software interprets a wealth of data, including travel patterns, local events, and city-specific characteristics, to optimize vehicle distribution based on forecasted mobility demands. This ensures that vehicles are available where and when they’re needed, offering citizens a more efficient, sustainable mobility system. Simultaneously, it allows fleet operators to cut operational costs and enhance fleet efficiency through precise predictions on user behavior, informing vehicle distribution and maintenance planning.
SWITCH – Street WITCHer‘s CEO, Matteo Forte, underlines the significance of cooperation between public and private entities in the promotion of shared mobility. In cities like Turin and Rome, we’ve forged fruitful collaborations, using our “City Insight” module to streamline the placement and number of charging stations for electric vehicles in Rome. In Turin, our “Business Intelligence” and “Monitoring” modules are being employed for better management of shared mobility.
Moreover, with the ability to swiftly adapt to different local contexts, we aim to extend our services to ten more cities, including two international locations. Our strength lies in our adaptability, allowing us to scale our solutions rapidly.
Looking Ahead
As McKinsey’s report highlights, shared mobility is undergoing a major transformation, with consumer preferences leaning towards more sustainable, efficient modes of transport. It’s an evolution that’s already underway and one that SWITCH – Street WITCHer is proud to be a part of.
By harnessing the power of AI and machine learning, we’re helping to revolutionize the shared mobility landscape. Our innovative solutions are not only meeting the present demands of urban mobility but are also laying the groundwork for a more sustainable, efficient future. We’re ready for the challenges ahead and excited about the journey to come. It’s time to SWITCH gears and embrace the future of urban mobility.
