CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Zipcar, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ZIP), the world's leading car sharing network, released
the findings an independent study of Millennials (18-34-year-olds),
which examines the attitudes and behaviors of this generation
related to urban transportation, technology and car ownership.
Overall, the study found that the increasing availability of
on-demand mobility services (such as car sharing, ride sharing and
vehicle sharing) helps many Millennials drive less and makes it
easier to for them to live without owning a car.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111118/MM09809LOGO
)
The study, conducted in December
2012 by KRC Research, reveals that mobile devices and
on-demand transportation apps are more important to Millennials
than car ownership:
- Nearly two in three (65 percent) of Millennials say losing
their phone (30 percent) or computer (35 percent) would have a
greater negative impact on their daily routine than losing their
car (28 percent).
- One in four Millennials (25 percent) say transportation apps
have reduced their driving frequency, compared to less than 12
percent of those 45+.
Millennial Social Trends: Teched Out, Not Stressed
Out
Some say Millennials are too stressed out to take time for
themselves these days. Zipcar's survey indicates that they're
simply savvy and taking advantage of technology and
convenience:
- Nearly three quarters (73 percent) of Millennials would rather
shop online than drive or ride public transit to the
store.
- Nearly half (47 percent) of Millennials sometimes choose to
spend time with friends online instead of driving to see them in
person.
"We're living through the most important shift in transportation
in generations – the creation of a new mobility society. Soon
we'll live in major metropolitan areas that include networks of
ubiquitous, mobile-app powered on-demand mobility services.
These mobility networks will enable connected consumers to pick the
best mode of transportation for each trip, in real-time," said
Scott Griffith, Zipcar chairman and
CEO. "Millennials are leading the charge for this highly efficient
new model that is revolutionizing how people get around. Zipcar has
been a pioneer in the creation of the new mobility society, and we
will continue to innovate and expand our services in line with the
new and evolving metropolitan transportation model."
In addition to the influence of technology and availability of
alternatives discussed above, the study found that more traditional
influences – like the high cost of car ownership and environmental
concerns associated with excessive driving – are compelling many
Millennials to drive less.
"Mobility has defined new expectations for Millennials," said
Jonathan Yarmis, Principal Analyst
at Yarmis Group. "They are used to getting what they want, when
they want it and mobility solutions are changing the way they
decide how to get from one place to another. Having
transportation services on-demand is becoming essential to serve
the expectations of this new generation."
The third annual Millennials study included 1,015 adults
nationwide, age 18 and over, with 980 licensed drivers. Conducted
between December 6 and December 9,
2012, the online study utilized data weighted by demographic
variables to match the U.S. Census. Full study and results can also
be viewed at:
http://www.slideshare.net/Zipcar_Inc/millennial-slide-share-final-16812323
About Zipcar
Zipcar is the world's leading car sharing
network with more than 777,000 members and nearly 10,000 vehicles
in urban areas and college campuses throughout the United States, Canada, the United
Kingdom, Spain and
Austria. Zipcar offers more than
30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to
residents and businesses looking for smart, simple and convenient
solutions to their urban and campus transportation needs. More
information is available at www.zipcar.com.
Photos and b-roll footage are available for media purposes
at www.zipcar.mediaroom.com.
ZIP-G
SOURCE Zipcar, Inc.