The automotive industry needs to seize the opportunities ahead for new mobility solutions and car ownership is far from dead, according to Erik Jonnaert, ACEA’s Secretary General.
Jonnaert was speaking at a Frost & Sullivan conference on urban mobility in London. Asked about potentially disruptive emerging business models such as those involving car sharing, he stressed the need for the auto industry to maintain perspective and look for new opportunities.
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Some commentators have suggested that the traditional model of car ownership is under threat as consumers – particularly the young – lose interest in owning cars, partly due to high costs of ownership, but also as they are increasingly attracted to car sharing and multi-modal transport use in urban areas.
“Despite some of the talk, car ownership will not disappear,” he said. “It still meets a need for many. However, there are different mobility solutions emerging,” Jonnaert acknowledged. “It’s a combination of the vehicle and new services to meet particular needs. Technology makes many things possible, but I prefer to be cautious over where we are heading. The outcomes will not be extreme and I doubt that we will all be driven around by a robot anytime soon.
“And let’s not forget that evolving and new technology exists in our industry to best meet the needs of the consumer. We have to make sure that the consumer remains at the centre of things as new technological opportunities emerge.
“I certainly don’t think we are looking at a one-size-fits-all solution. There will be a range of mobility solutions to meet different market needs and the automotive industry needs to remain at the heart of developments in all [transport market] segments,” he said. “And I am very confident we will meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
