Carsharing in Shanghai, China: Analysis of Behavioral Response to Local Survey and Potential Competition

The rapid motorization of China raises questions about the potential for alternative mobility solutions, such as carsharing (short-term auto use), used in developing megacities such as Shanghai. Demand for motor vehicles is increasing rapidly, but many aspects of urban transportation in Shanghai and in China more broadly separate the city and the center from other urban environments in which carsharing has thrived traditionally. For example, the taxi is much more prominent in the transportation systems of Shanghai and Beijing than in most North American and European cities. Carsharing tends to thrive in environments in which the broad population has experience with driving and automobile ownership. This experience is lacking in Shanghai. To evaluate carsharing's potential in Shanghai, the size and competitiveness of the taxi systems of key carsharing cities in Europe, North America, and Asia were compared. The analysis illustrated core distinctions between Shanghai and other major cities in which carsharing has thrived. To explore further the potential response of Shanghai's citizens to carsharing, a survey was conducted (N = 271) of a subpopulation in Shanghai from November 2010 to February 2011. The survey analysis showed that those interested in carsharing were younger, more likely to be educated, had longer commutes, and owned fewer cars than those with no interest in carsharing. This paper concludes with a discussion of this study's implications for the development of a carsharing industry in Shanghai.