AUTONEWS

Coronavirus kicks younger car buyers into gear as thoughts on ride sharing sours 

Younger generations have, historically, been slightly less inclined to purchase a car and take part in vehicle ownership than older generations. Public transportation and the advent of ride sharing helped shape their thoughts, but it appears the coronavirus pandemic is starting to make the age group have second thoughts.
According to a new study from Capgemini that looked at populations in major countries around the world, those under age 35 are now seriously considering buying a car. The shift in thinking comes as they correlate health and safety risks associated with shared transportation, like Uber, Lyft or even a local bus network. A whopping 75% of those surveyed said buying their own car will give them greater control of hygiene.
Diving into the numbers (keep in mind this is a global picture that encompasses the US, Europe and Asia), 79% of those aged 25 to 35 have historically not owned a vehicle, but 45% of those under age 35 are now interested in owning one. Of those aged 18 to 24 that do own a car, 30% of them now plan to make their vehicle the main form of transportation to replace public transportation and ride-sharing services. A large portion, 44%, said they plan to curb ride-sharing use due to health concerns. For all age groups, 46% plan to use their cars more often and think less about grabbing a bus, train or subway. Continuing the hygiene trend, a whopping 59% said they'd pay a premium for features like germ filters.

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