Factors underlying vehicle ownership reduction among carsharing users: A repeated cross-sectional analysis

Abstract This study identifies and compares factors that drive carsharing users’ vehicle ownership changes, using repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted in the early (2014) and mature (2018) phases of the carsharing program in Seoul, Korea. Launched in 2013, the carsharing program has experienced a rapid growth in rental facilities and membership. Two types of mixed-effect logistic regression models are developed to predict the reduction in car ownership and the decision to defer a car purchase among carsharing members, respectively, for each phase, and the changes in estimated coefficients between two phases are evaluated statistically. Results show that about 31% of the members reduced their current or potential car ownership in favor of shared automobility in both phases, while the proportion of those who shed a private vehicle almost doubled from 2.3% to 4.3%. Carsharing’s impact on vehicle ownership reduction appears to be extended to more general cohorts of the membership (e.g., higher income, larger households) as the program expands and ages. While accessibility to carsharing services is consistently important for deciding against vehicle ownership, the relative importance of satisfaction with customer services, accident claims process, and rental charges increased significantly between 2014 and 2018. Those who choose shared vehicles for business or commute trips are more willing to decrease their vehicle ownership than those using the service for non-work trips. These findings help develop a clear understanding of carsharing users’ behavioral changes in terms of car ownership following the growth of carsharing services, with insights on the direction of further service improvement.