Carsharing Growth Will be Driven by Free-Floating Services, Increasing Regulatory Support, OEM Programs and New-Growth Markets Such as Russia

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- During a time of transition for the automotive and transportation industries, carsharing fleets continue to grow around the world. While other mobility services such as ridesharing and bike sharing have gone through some turbulence recently, carsharing has garnered the majority of support from regulators in almost every market.

The first detailed reveal of Strategy Analytics’ findings and data will occur at the upcoming Car Sharing Association event in Paris, Oct. 16-17. Strategy Analytics’ Industry Analyst James Messeder will share the latest information and insights.

The Strategy Analytics Automotive Connected Mobility Service (ACM) forecast, “ 2018 Global Carsharing,” provides projections for worldwide B2C carsharing fleet sizes, membership sizes, and revenues. Strategy Analytics plans to publish this forecast on an ongoing basis and will update it twice during each calendar year. The forecast is also accompanied by a report. All three categories are projected to achieve gradual growth rates over the next ten-year period. The Eastern European and Asian markets are expected to realize the most growth during that time span. Strategy Analytics also expects free-floating carsharing fleets will grow faster than station-based fleets – at a rate of 8-12% faster YoY.

The forecast includes 141 different companies running 183 different services. Among the largest operators are GoFun, Car2Go, EV Card, Times Car PLUS, Yandex.Drive and Zipcar. Strategy Analytics expects these operators will seek growth primarily through new market expansions, new services, and partnerships over the next few years.

“Carsharing still has significant room for growth in most markets around the world. Operators are testing out new ways to increase utilization of vehicles, entering into new markets, and partnering with local stakeholders,” said James Messeder, Industry Analyst for the Automotive Connected Mobility (ACM) practice at Strategy Analytics. “These efforts should continue over the next several years, driving growth and providing mobility access to people everywhere.”

“The key force restraining growth in carsharing is the struggle to change consumer behavior in the context of car makers’ ongoing focus on car ownership,” said Roger Lanctot, Director of the Automotive Connected Mobility (ACM) practice at Strategy Analytics. “But the 50-year-old carsharing movement is gathering momentum as awareness grows and new players join in.”