The Mobility Industry Trends Through the Lens of the Social Analysis: A Multi-Level Perspective Approach

Abstract

The mobility industry is experiencing an in-depth transformation looking for higher efficiency, and this evolution has relevant impact from the economic and social perspective. Nevertheless, technological and mobility trends involve uncertainty on users, policy makers, and businesses. Thus, the analysis of the technologies and their associated trends is relevant for enabling a general understanding of new features and social benefits that can shape the mobility trends toward a better experience. This paper intends to forecast and understand the impact of the new trends on general public through qualitative research deployed with experts from different European countries. It aims at clarifying the predisposition to adapt daily habits to adopt autonomous and connected vehicles, electrical motorizations and servitization. Those areas of deployment in the mobility industry represent relevant dilemmas in terms of social exchange. Businesses, technical and physical infrastructures, public services and regulations are among those areas highly affected by this evolution. Despite the reported advantages of those trends, those innovations will only be supported by specific groups of population and policy-makers unless they show similar benefits to traditional mobility means. Mobility-as-a-Services will be widespread in parallel with the improvement of the service offered, cost reduction, and geographical coverage.