Mobility and Individual Choices in Turbulent Times - an Overview

The automotive industry and the mobility sector are experiencing turbulent times, where the intertwining effects of both endogenous and exogenous phenomena are swiftly changing the rules of the game. The rise of innovative technologies and business models, the shift from the concept of ownership to that of use and an unprecedented awareness of sustainability-related issues are all dimensions that are likely to change the way individuals conceive mobility and choose between different options available. Now more than ever, it is crucial for automakers willing to get an edge over competitors (both inside and outside the car industry) to gain further insights on the demand side. That is, shedding light on the behavioural and psychological determinants of individual choices in the domain of mobility, being this a pre-requisite for the implementation of effective corporate strategies. The chapter i) illustrates the role that variables such as attitudes, values or habits play in shaping individual behaviours and ii) focuses in the survey-based empirical appendix on electrification from the point of view of demand, highlighting perceptions, attitudes and hindrances that linger on such envisaged change of paradigm.