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By 2030, 25% of Miles Driven in US Could Be in Shared Self-Driving Electric CarsCHICAGO, April 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- By 2030, around a quarter of all miles driven in the US could be in shared autonomous electric vehicles, which will offer consumers in large cities the lowest-cost, most convenient form of transportation, according to new research by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). BCG’s key insight is that the convergence of three trends—ride sharing (services such as Uber and Lyft), autonomous driving, and vehicle electrification—create a far more compelling economic case than any of these forces alone. Due to their ability to cut travel costs by 60%, shared autonomous electric vehicles (SAEVs) could shift about 25% of miles traveled from private automobiles-—creating enormous benefits for consumers as well as causing major disruption to the automotive industry. While total vehicle demand will only be affected slightly, by 2030 more than 5 million conventional cars per year could be replaced by a combination of fully autonomous electric vehicles for urban fleets and partially autonomous cars for personal use. Cities will benefit from less congestion and cleaner air, but could be disadvantaged by falling ridership on public transit, fear of which could result in some cities proactively trying to regulate the number of SAEVs on the road. “Such an evolution in mobility is no longer a fantasy. The technology exists and our research shows that many consumers will embrace it,” said Brian Collie, a Chicago-based partner who leads BCG’s automotive practice in North America. “Yet few players are taking the bold steps needed to position themselves to thrive in this not-too-distant future. The time to act is now.” SAEV is an apt acronym for these vehicles, as fleets would save time, money, and lives. By using SAEVs, a typical Chicagoan who owns a car and drives 10,000 miles a year could cut the cost of travel from around $1.20 per mile to around 50 cents per mile. Over the course of a year, that could put more than $7,000 in that driver’s pocket—effectively doubling consumer discretionary income. Unlike most industry studies which look at trends such as autonomous driving and powertrain electrification in isolation, BCG’s research aims to provide an integrated view of the future of mobility in the US. The consultants combine insights from a variety of sources—including a proprietary survey of more than 6,000 US consumers; detailed modeling and analysis of traffic patterns and population density in over 100 cities of varying sizes; economic forecasting; past BCG studies; and interviews with a wide range of industry experts. The results focus on implications for automobile and parts manufacturers, car dealers, service providers, and city governments, as well as other key stakeholders, such as energy and insurance companies. Radical Shift Will Be Concentrated in Large Cities BCG’s conservative estimate is that 23% to 26% of miles driven in the United States, or about 800 billion to 925 billion miles, could be traveled in SAEVs by 2030. The shift to SAEVs, which would be gradual and would begin by the early 2020s, would likely occur in cities with more than 1 million people, where there is sufficient demand to keep fleet utilization high and there are significant pain points associated with private vehicle ownership (expensive insurance, difficulty finding parking, and congestion). Adoption could be even faster and more widespread f innovations in technology and pricing models reduce costs further for consumers. Innovations could include radically different vehicle designs (such as driverless pods), new tailored services (such as pooled ride sharing), and new revenue streams (such as in-vehicle advertising). At a lower price point, SAEV service might be attractive in more mid-size cities (with populations of 500,000 to 1 million). Nonetheless, significant hurdles remain. Major technical and infrastructure challenges must be solved. For example, BCG concludes that SAEVs are unlikely to be economically viable in small cities and rural areas. And even in larger cities, their survey findings suggest that many consumers remain skeptical of the technology or are unwilling to give up the many conveniences and benefits of private vehicle ownership. Shift Will Have Massive Impact Moving up to a quarter of all miles driven would have massive impact, not only on household economics and lifestyles, but also on society as a whole, urban planning, the automotive industry, and key supporting industries such as energy, finance, and insurance.
The Next Car You Own May Be Your Last “The age of shared autonomous electric vehicles is upon us and now is the time for automakers, suppliers, and cities to begin taking the bold steps necessary to thrive in this rapidly changing world,” said Justin Rose, a Chicago-based partner who leads BCG’s digital efforts for industrial goods companies. “Companies need to deconstruct and rebuild business models, develop new capabilities, create new sources of sustainable advantage, and shift assets and talent to new purposes—or risk becoming irrelevant. As with any great disruption, this transition will be risky and extremely challenging, particularly in the face of near-term investor expectations of customer demands.” To help navigate this turbulent period of transition and uncertainty, the authors have developed a roadmap to guide automakers, cities, and regulators in preparing for this profound change, with a set of recommended actions for each. “The automotive industry is on the brink of a major transformation, and it’ll be here faster than people realize,” added Rose. “For millions of Americans living in large cities, the next vehicle they purchase may be the last car they ever own.” A formal report with further details on the study—the first in a multi-part series on the reinvention of the automotive industry—will be published in the coming weeks on bcg.com. About The Boston Consulting Group About bcgperspectives.com The Boston Consulting Group Dave Fondiller Director of Public Relations and Communications, North America Tel +1 212 446 3257 [email protected] For non-media requests, please contact: Irene Perzylo at +49 89 2317 5313 or [email protected] |