Blair Stover Brings Attention to Boom in Car Sharing Industry
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LOS ANGELES--Sept. 19, 2013: Blair Stover is pointing to a new era in how Americans view automobiles with an article that spotlights the booming car sharing industry. Widely popular in Europe for decades, car sharing was slow to be embraced by car fanatical and independent Americans. Blair Stover is now offering cultural and economic insights into America's car sharing boom, which is expected to grow by nearly 600% until 2020.
Car sharing is typically modeled as a short-term auto rental of several hours. The service provides economical access to transportation without the financial commitment that many in an uncertain economy are shying from. Blair Stover notes that car sharing companies have wisely catered their services to the tech savvy of young drivers, who comprise the bulk of customers.
Such conveniences include a smartphone app that enables drivers to locate and pick up an available vehicle nearby in a few short minutes. As a flexible service with minimal obligation, Blair Stover notes that car sharing has become popular with young adults who face shaky job prospects and high student debt in a new American economy.
A cultural shift in perceptions about status is also cited by Blair Stover's research to benefit the car sharing industry. He has noted that smartphones and other mobile devices have become more prized among youth than cars.
This notion is separately substantiated in an article from online newsletter The Tech Issue. The report mentions many American will compromise food or medications to have the most updated mobile device for status purposes.
The emergence of environmental concerns, such as air pollution and fuel conservation, are also factors in the rising popularity of car sharing, as reported by National Public Radio (NPR) in an April 8th, 2013 article.
Blair Stover similarly notes that the eco-friendly aspects of car sharing are well suited for the industry's young clientele, who tend to be socially and environmentally conscious.
