Role of Transportation - US - January 2021

OVERVIEW
What you need to know
Key issues covered in this Report
Definition
COVID-19: US context
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
Top takeaways 
Market overview 
Impact of COVID-19 on the role of transportation
Figure 1: Short, medium and long term impact of COVID-19 on the role of transportation, January 2021
Opportunities and challenges  
Sanitization stations can boost mass transit’s low cleanliness perceptions
OEMs should home in on the perception of personal vehicles being a form of PPE 
Single-person mobility services have the opportunity to grow their business
eCommerce has played a role in diminishing consumer need for transit
THE MARKET – KEY TAKEAWAYS 
COVID-19 causes drastic drop in 2020 traffic volumes and need for transit
Low gas prices reinforce consumers’ reliance on personal vehicles
IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE ROLE OF TRANSPORTATION
Figure 2: Short, medium and long term impact of COVID-19 on the role of transportation, January 2021
Lockdown
Reemergence
Recovery
COVID-19: US context
Learnings from the last recession
MARKET FACTORS 
Traffic volumes dip drastically in 2020
COVID-19 causes changes to work and work environments
Figure 3: Unemployment and underemployment, January 2007-December 2020
Low gas prices are a boon to personal vehicles
Figure 4: US gasoline and diesel retail prices, January 2007-December 2020
MARKET OPPORTUNITIES 
Leverage emerging tech to provide “touchless transit”
Implement self-cleaning technology in electric modes of transportation
Partner with cleaning product companies to provide a “safer, cleaner” experience
Multivehicle ownership could increase as a result of COVID-19
COMPANIES AND BRANDS – KEY TAKEAWAYS 
Uber partners with Moderna to provide support in vaccine rollout
CTA aims to ease concerns of passengers through free mask dispensers
New York’s MTA introduces “OMNY” to offer “touchless transit” to riders
MBTA becomes largest transit provider with 100% renewable energy
Illinois Tollway encourages touchless transit with I-Pass
GM commits to a fully electric future
COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES
Uber partners with Moderna to aid in COVID-19 vaccination process
Figure 5: Uber partners with Moderna around COVID-19 vaccine process
CTA pilots mask dispenser program on buses
Figure 6: Chicago Transit Authority free mask dispenser program
MTA soon to offer “touchless transit”
Figure 7: Metropolitan Transit Authority rolls out contactless payment
MBTA becomes largest transit provider to reach 100% renewable energy
Figure 8: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority uses 100% renewable energy
Illinois Tollway encourages I-Pass enrollment for hassle-free vehicle travel
General Motors plans for an all-electric future
Figure 9: General Motors announces all-electric future
THE CONSUMER – KEY TAKEAWAYS  
Pandemic has drastically decreased consumers’ need to drive
Single-person mobility services gain popularity during the pandemic
Clean transit requires a community approach
Safety is the most important factor when deciding how to get somewhere
CONSUMER TREND DRIVERS IMPACTING THE ROLE OF TRANSPORTATION
Technology
Value
Experiences
Wellbeing
Surroundings
CONSUMERS’ APPROACH TO TRANSPORTATION
Cars are most popular way to get around
Figure 10: Transportation services used in a 12-month period, November 2020
While personal vehicles are preferred, consumers have hit the brakes on their driving habits
Figure 11: Driving rates since start of pandemic, November 2020
COVID-19 has also lessened the role of alternate transportation services 
Figure 12: Transportation services used in a 12-month period, by year, December 2019, November 2020
Lack of alternate transportation causes consumers under 45 to drive more
Figure 13: Driving rates since start of pandemic, by age, November 2020
COVID-19 driving rates differ by area; new opportunities for alternate services
Figure 14: Driving rates since start of pandemic, by area, November 2020
Single-person mobility services gain popularity, garner high usage
Figure 15: Usage rates of transportation methods used since start of the pandemic, November 2020
ATTITUDES TOWARD TRANSPORTATION
Personal vehicle ownership isn’t going anywhere anytime soon
Figure 16: Consumer attitudes toward personal vehicle ownership, November 2020
Older consumers more likely to perceive personal vehicles as PPE
Figure 17: Consumer attitudes toward personal vehicle ownership, by age, November 2020
Clean transit requires an “all hands” approach in the eyes of consumers
Figure 18: Consumer attitudes toward mass transit sanitization, November 2020
Ride share services must address actual and perceived price increases
Figure 19: Perception of increased rideshare pricing, by area, November 2020
IMPORTANT FACTORS WHEN DECIDING HOW TO GET SOMEWHERE
Safety trumps price, convenience
Figure 20: Most important factors, November 2020
Women focus on safety, convenience and reliability; men focus on practicality, comfort
Figure 21: Most important factors, by gender, November 2020
TRANSPORTATION SERVICE ATTRIBUTES
Overall, alternate transportation services are functional
Figure 22: Chicago’s holiday train operates through pandemic
Figure 23: Perception of transportation services, November 2020
Transportation lacks perception of being clean, hygienic and low-risk of COVID-19
Figure 24: Perception of transportation services, November 2020
Alternate transit can appeal to consumers’ desire for environmentally friendly options
Figure 25: Perception of transportation services as sustainable, November 2020
THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION 
Consumers envision a more cautious relationship with transportation 
Figure 26: Attitudes toward the future of transportation, November 2020
COVID’s impact on shared and mass transit mostly affects urban consumers
Figure 27: Attitudes toward the future of transportation, by area, November 2020
APPENDIX – DATA SOURCES AND ABBREVIATIONS
Forecast
Consumer survey data
Direct marketing creative
Abbreviations and terms
Abbreviations
Terms
APPENDIX – THE CONSUMER
Figure 28: Usage rates of transportation methods used since March 2020, by gender, November 2020