Vehicle ownership models for a sharing economy with autonomous vehicle considerations

This study investigates the impacts of the sharing economy and vehicle automation on household vehicle ownership by considering the earning potential of household vehicles. While many studies have examined the impact of the sharing economy (namely ridesourcing) on vehicle ownership of ridesourcing customers, there is a gap in understanding its impact on vehicle ownership among ridesourcing suppliers. Data from an original survey are used to develop discrete choice models that evaluate the effects of earning potential, automation, and shared autonomous vehicle services on vehicle transaction decisions. The estimated models are applied to perform national-level simulations. It is found that, in comparison to a non-sharing economy context, individuals in the sharing economy tend to purchase more vehicles in times of income gain, and to preserve their fleets more readily in times of income loss. This study provides evidence that the sharing economy incentivizes some individuals to own more - not fewer - vehicles..