Assessment of the Future Development of Car Sharing in Germany and Related Opportunities

TLDR

Car sharing, defined as shared vehicle services among members, is a key driver of sustainable transport, yet in Germany only 0.16 % of licence holders use it despite recent market growth. The study aims to identify strategies to increase car‑sharing uptake. Researchers surveyed all German car‑sharing organisations, conducted a household demand survey, and examined international developments through online research and brief surveys of foreign operators. The paper presents actionable recommendations for expanding car‑sharing based on the combined survey results.

Abstract

Abstract Car sharing, which can be defined as sharing vehicle services amongst members, thereby giving them access to a fleet of vehicles, is important in promoting the use of sustainable modes of transport. Although the car‐sharing market in Germany has grown considerably in recent years, customer take‐up is still relatively low. Only 0.16% of driving licence holders in Germany have joined a car‐sharing organization. As a result, the central objective of this paper is to assess ways of promoting car‐sharing services further. Therefore, it begins with an investigation into the current situation in Germany, for which a survey addressing all German car‐sharing organizations was conducted. Additionally, a household survey was conducted to evaluate the demand for car sharing. Finally, research into the development of car sharing in other countries was undertaken via the Internet and a brief survey to car‐sharing organizations in some of those countries. Recommendations for the further development of car sharing are given based on the findings from each of these studies.