Inchcape reveals views on NEVs and car ownership

Report unveils trends in personal mobility, and shows growing positive sentiment towards new energy vehicles (NEVs) while adoption barriers remain

Findings from Inchcape's Drivers of Change report reveals growing positive sentiment towards new energy vehicles (NEVs), driven by environmental considerations, while barriers to wider adoption persist. The study also highlights that car ownership remains the preferred and most-used mode of transport across Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Latin America (LATAM), underlining the social value people place on personal mobility.

Drawing on surveys conducted across LATAM and APAC - reaching 6,000 respondents across 13 countries - the research indicates that countries with rising GDPs and low motorisation rates are well-positioned to transition directly to lower-carbon mobility solutions if supported by consumer education, adequate charging infrastructure and government incentives.

The research reaffirms that personal vehicle ownership continues to be a vital complement to public transport; however, the automotive industry is facing a complex challenge, with tailpipe emissions accounting for 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The sector is evolving to address this by introducing new technologies to reduce emissions while increasing access to mobility.

Other key findings from this first of its kind survey show:

-     Control and independence are central: in APAC, 63% of respondents cite freedom of movement as a primary benefit to vehicle ownership. In LATAM, 91% value the ability to travel freely according to their own schedule.

-     Access to better job opportunities is a major advantage of ownership: 81% of participants in LATAM and 33% in APAC cite it as a key factor. 62% of respondents in LATAM and 18% in APAC also say vehicle ownership provides access to better educational opportunities.

-     Familiarity varies by region: in APAC, more than 80% of respondents are aware of both fully electric and hybrid technologies, compared with fewer than 40% of respondents in LATAM.

-     There are clear universal motivators, with 62% in APAC and 37% in LATAM saying environmental considerations are important to NEV adoption.

-     Barriers to access remain: 68% in APAC view NEVs as too expensive, and affordability is cited as the most common challenge in LATAM, followed by inadequate charging infrastructure.

Inchcape's findings reveal a significant opportunity for LATAM and APAC to integrate NEVs in their transport systems, showing that the mobility transition can be achieved faster and more equitably through collaboration among policymakers, OEMs, distributors and the energy industry. The report also outlines tailored solutions, from infrastructure expansion to investment, that align with market realities to build confidence in NEVs while addressing consumer concerns. Global distributors like Inchcape play a key role by bridging the knowledge gap for OEMs and policymakers and leveraging insights to assist in the NEV transition through consumer education and demand stimulation.

"The transition to sustainable mobility is not just about technology-it is about people," said Liz Brown, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Inchcape. "By listening to consumers and understanding their expectations, concerns and motivations, we can enable solutions that respond to both global sustainability goals and consumers' mobility needs."

This report is the first in Inchcape's Centre for the Future of Mobility, a new knowledge hub delivering actionable insights into how the global mobility transition can be achieved sustainably, equitably and effectively. This supports Inchcape´s ambition of enabling solutions tailored to local realities, bringing mobility to the world´s communities - for today, for tomorrow and for the better.

Read the full report and explore our Drivers of Change hub here: https://www.inchcape.com/sustainability/drivers-of-change/

About Inchcape

Inchcape is the leading global automotive Distributor, with operations across six continents. Inchcape works with our mobility company partners in smaller, more complex and harder-to-reach markets, which tend to be higher growth with low motorisation rates. By combining our in-market expertise with our unique technology and advanced data analytics, we create innovative customer experiences that deliver outstanding performance for our partners - building stronger automotive brands and creating sustainable growth.

Our Distribution platform connects the products of mobility company partners with customers, and our responsibilities span product planning and pricing, import and logistics, brand and marketing to operating digital sales, managing physical sales and aftermarket service channels. Delivering for our partners, our customers and our people - so they can realise their ambitions in the new world of mobility. The Group is headquartered in London and employs over 16,000 people globally.

www.inchcape.com

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