Survey says most people see cars as a way of life
A majority of people around the world could not imagine living their lives without a car, according to a study released Wednesday at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The findings by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), a group that defends the various interests of the car industry, revealed that 57% of people globally would find life harder or more challenging without access to four wheels.
OICA concluded that 78% of people in Africa cannot imagine living without a car, 63% in the Americas, 56% in Europe and 48% in Asia. The Paris-based organization surveyed 14,000 people in 18 countries.
“The conclusions are quite clear and positive, with the car seen as an object of desire, providing many important advantages compared to any other transport mode: globally, consumers view the car as comfortable, practical, fast, safe, and future-oriented,” said Matthias Wissmann, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry and an OICA vice-president, in a statement.
“Also the industry itself scores extremely high and is largely considered as an industry that can be trusted and is innovative.”
The study concluded that global consumers generally believe the car industry is doing its job when it comes to investing in technologies that reduce carbon emissions and support renewable energy sources.
“There’s been a lot of effort by different companies bringing different technologies” to the emissions problem, Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn — also president of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) — told news reporters Wednesday.
“We will we do what we can to get results at COP21.”
COP21 is a United Nationssponsored conference on climate change that will take place in Paris in December. Reducing longterm carbon emissions from cars and other major infrastructure is one of its goals.
Erik Jonnaert, ACEA’s secretary-general, said Wednesday the car industry currently is responsible for a 5% reduction in total global emissions. He said that was ahead of other industries.
The OICA study found the car industry largely enjoys a positive reputation despite a spate of highly publicized vehicle recalls involving nearly all major manufacturers. That’s in large part because today’s cars are safer and more reliable. In the U.S., road fatalities have dropped sharply and vehicle dependability ratings are at all-time highs.
Nevertheless, the car’s reign may still be under threat, as a growing number of people live where car ownership is difficult, unnecessary and even dangerous.
According to the World Health Organization, 54% of the world’s population lives in urban centers — and that number is expected to grow to 66% by 2050.
According to the WHO, car accidents are now the fifth-leading cause of death in developing countries, and vehicle-related air pollution is an increasing threat to human health.
Globally, demand for new passenger cars was up 1.4% to 36.1 million in the first half of this year.