Abstract
The global automotive industry is both vast in its complexity and vital to the lifestyles of many residents in the industrialized world. Cars not only make transportation easier, but are associated with a sense of freedom and economic accomplishment. A better understanding of people's lifestyles, values, and mobility needs has led the automakers to redefine their long-term strategies as a base to a new development of products/services to support the new mobility. This chapter highlights the challenges and the main disrupting factors for the automotive sector to move towards mobility companies. This chapter gives a close look to understand how the industry has been influenced by different trends in an evolving society and what technologies have been playing a key role for the future mobility companies. Case studies of leading companies are given as examples for a future vision. This chapter is addressed to academics and professionals interested in mobility and in understanding how automotive sector landscapes are changing in a changing society.
TopThe Future Of Mobility
Mobility now has a different meaning. The main goal is to build a-mobility for all, a mobility that is accessible to everyone, at any place, at any time. It’s mobility on demand when it’s needed to be, when it aids in solving daily struggles, when it responds to spontaneous needs. Look into mobility not only has a need for a product, but as a product that is associated with a service. An ecosystem is built around products and services that respond to future mobility challenges.
To better understand what those challenges are, there is a need to understand the way society and urban areas have evolved.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Robo-Taxi: Taxi completely autonomous used for on demand services.
MaaS: Mobility as a service.
On-Demand Services: Providing goods and services is almost instant or in minimal time. The service request to destination is performed using an app.
Car-Sharing: App-based and point to point station-based systems (e.g., Cambio); free-floating car sharing such as Car2Go or Zen Car (using only electric cars).
People-Centric Mobility: Mobility solutions thinking on people-first approach.
Multi-Modal: Use of different modes of transport from Public transport (train, bus, tram, others) to car, bike, or other sharing schemes including walking.
Ride-Sharing: App-based short-distance ride-sharing services (e.g., Uber); and long-distance ride-sharing (e.g., BlaBlaCar).