Is Car Ownership Coming to an End?

The Wall Street Journal sees the end for car ownership, it's been predicted before, but they see moves from the industry and predictions from consultants as proof that this time it's for real.

1 minute read

June 29, 2017, 5:00 AM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Automobile Owner

miroslav110 / Shutterstock

Car sales in the United States and around the world continue to break records, but an editorial in The Wall Street Journal argues that the age of cars may be coming to an end. "Thanks to ride sharing and the looming introduction of self-driving vehicles, the entire model of car ownership is being upended—and very soon may not look anything like it has for the past century," Tim Higgins writes.

"One-quarter of miles driven in the U.S. may be through shared, self-driving vehicles by 2030, according to an estimate by Boston Consulting Group," Higgins Reports. Higgins sees the entrance of companies like Apple, Amazon, and Samsung into the industry as a sign that this shift is coming soon. "As a result of both driverless cars and fleets of robot taxis, sales of conventionally purchased automobiles may likely drop," Higgins posits. 

Tuesday, June 20, 2017 in The Wall Street Journal

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