Car ownership in Chinese metropolitans: Valuation, age-related differences, and policy implications for sustainable transport

In the context of urban mobility evolution, the perceived value of private cars, encompassing both ownership and usage facets, exhibits significant demographic variability. Grasping the nuanced balance between these values is pivotal for crafting effective strategies to propel sustainable mobility transitions in urban settings. This study investigated the perceived value dynamics of private cars among respondents in Beijing, the Shanghai-Jiangsu-Zhejiang megaregion, and Guangdong—pioneering regions in embracing low-carbon and intelligent transportation innovations. Through a discrete choice experiment (DCE) based survey conducted in 2023, we garnered 4130 valid responses. The results indicate that respondents give a stated value of annual ¥1448 ($203) to forgo ride-hailing services and ¥11,960 ($1677) to forgo private car ownership. Notably, 42% of the perceived car value in this sample is attributed to ownership, contrasting with the 58% observed among U.S. residents. This distinction suggests a relatively lower emphasis on car ownership among the studied Chinese cohort compared to their U.S. counterparts, a difference that may be influenced by structural factors such as dense urban rail networks and the widespread availability of ride-hailing platforms in major Chinese metropolitan regions. These findings offer novel theoretical insights into the psychological and behavioral underpinnings of mobility choices, highlighting how a lower emphasis on ownership value may foster greater receptivity towards shared mobility solutions. The study also uncovers significant age-related differences and regional disparities within the sample, hinting at varying levels of receptivity towards shared autonomous mobility solutions. These insights furnish valuable guidance for policymakers aiming to foster sustainable mobility transitions tailored to the unique urban landscapes of China, while acknowledging the need for future research to explore the causal effects of built environment variables and infrastructure on these stated preferences.