Chart of the Month: Uncovering New Dynamics in Global Commuting Habits

As more employees are returning to the office in a post-Covid work environment, commuting preferences and challenges have again come into the spotlight. Although cars and motorcycles continue to be the most popular modes of commute, many consumers across geographies are looking for alternatives to vehicle ownership, driven by a desire for affordability and improved quality of life.

As cities evolve, many local governments are directing funding to expanding public transportation, cycling lanes, and car-free zones. At the same time, innovative commuting modes are rapidly spreading across regions, driven by changing consumer preferences, household budget constraints, traffic congestion, environmental concerns and technological advancements. Bicycle-sharing services and ride-hailing platforms have been at the forefront of this transformation. According to Euromonitor’s Voice of the Consumer: Mobility Survey, (fielded January to February 2024), nearly 20% of commuters in Latin America chose ride-hailing services as a typical transportation mode, compared to the global average of 12%.

The increased demand for flexible mobility solutions, aligned with affordability as a top consumer priority, has also sparked innovation in car-sharing services. In the Middle East and Africa, car-sharing is a typical mode of commute for 8.5% of survey respondents, and in India 17% of commuters use car-sharing services. Local players such as Zoomcar, Drivezy, Myles and Revv offer convenience as consumers can rent cars by subscription or on a pay-per-use basis. Some companies also offer peer-to-peer vehicle sharing services, which is an opportunity for car owners to earn passive income.

As new business models and technological advancements surge, mobility market players are adapting in this ever-dynamic scenario in which consumers are reshaping commuting habits and transportation preferences. To capitalise on a white space opportunity, consumer survey data can provide valuable insights to target new audiences, emerging markets and unmet customer needs.

More about the Voice of the Consumer: Mobility Survey 

As the mobility industry is constantly evolving, it is important for market players to understand consumer habits and preferences to build targeted business strategies and identify growth opportunities.

To help businesses effectively, we worked with our in-house industry experts and analysts alongside key players within the industry to create the Mobility Survey, which covers a wide array of topics and key trends in 37 countries.

Key questions the Voice of the Consumer: Mobility Survey answers 

• How important is public transport or shared mobility for commuting?
• What are the key differences in consumer purchasing behaviour related to new or second-hand vehicles?
• What is the potential interest in vehicle ownership in 2024?
• What are the preferred ADAS attributes for car owners?

Euromonitor International's Consumer Insights offering 

Euromonitor designs consumer surveys in-house, using input from research experts and clients. Our offering includes nine annual Voice of the Consumer tracking surveys, which can be explored in the Survey dashboard and in the data download tool for in-depth analysis. These capabilities live in Passport, Euromonitor’s one-stop shop for industry, economies and consumer data. Connect with our team to learn more.

Read our article, Fastest-Growing Cities in Asia Pacific Offer Strategic Business Opportunities, for more analysis on cities and their economies.

Learn more about the changing dynamics of loyalty in mobility in our report, Building Value Through Loyalty Strategies in Mobility.