New report ‘The Sustainability Impact of Car Sharing 2020’ finds – One car shared with M replaces 8 privately owned cars

When Volo Car Mobility launched M in Stockholm a year ago, it was with strong belief that its shared mobility service was a more sustainable way to use a car, versus owning one. But the empirical facts and figures proving the environmental benefits were missing. Now the consulting specialist at Capgemini Invent have calculated the sustainability derived from M, its impact on the urban environment in Stockholm and the values that Volvo Car Mobility has created for the city, real estate sector, companies and private individuals.

“For us at Volvo Car Mobility sustainability is much more than just reducing tailpipe emissions. Our focus is to take a new and more conscious approach to the consumption of cars. Reclaiming the space, time, and money that would otherwise be taken up by privately owned cars to enable a healthier and more sustainable city”, said Steinar Danielsen, Sustainability Lead at M – Volvo Car Mobility.

“In just one year, M has proven to reduce congestion and lower emissions in the greater Stockholm area. In total, there are 4,515 fewer cars in the streets which implies that an urban area of land up to 56,400 m2 can be freed up due to a reduction of parking spaces, that is an area as big as the park Kungsträdgården. We have achieved this by combining the intelligence in our proprietary platform with people’s increased demand for a more sustainable way to drive a car and adapt the supply dynamically. Capgemini Invent’s report shares new facts that further show the positive impact we can create together”, said Bodil Eriksson, CEO of M – Volvo Car Mobility.

“M’s AI platform is central to Volvo Car Mobility’s business model; by capturing customer behaviors and allocating cars based on data-driven decisions, they have set a new standard for the development of shared mobility. Using a car sharing service instead of owning your own car is an effective way to reduce your environmental impact and our study shows that one car shared with M currently replaces eight privately owned cars” says Per Holmblad, Vice President, Automotive and Manufacturing at Capgemini Invent in Sweden.

The report ‘The Sustainability Impact of Car Sharing’ investigates how M – Volvo Car Mobility contributes to the global goals for sustainable development; 2030 Agenda for sustainable development goals:

Thanks to M 26 percent have sold their car, 51 percent avoid buying one and a total of 4,515 fewer cars drive on the streets.

The survey finds that more than 50 percent of the active customers avoid buying a car. One in four has sold their car as a direct effect of their M membership. This means that for each car accessible with M, eight privately owned cars have been removed – cars that stay idle 95 percent of the time. In total, M’s car sharing service has removed 4,515 fewer cars on the streets of Stockholm.

Stations-based car sharing is used as a complement, not a substitute
As many as 68 percent of customers who had access to a car before joining M reduced their driving by 43 percent, changing to a more multimodal lifestyle and continued to use public transport. While free-floating car sharing services are often used as an alternative to public transport, M’s stations-based service was used as a complement rather than a substitute for public transportation, biking and walking. 25 percent of the respondents answered that they walked more and used the bike to a greater extent than before.

Space for living and parks instead of parking
In Sweden today, there is an average of 50 m2 of parking space per person, compared to 42 m2 of living space per person. Today’s parking norms are based on an outdated form of ensuring that people have the right level of access to mobility. The space that is freed up when 4,515 cars do not have to occupy parking space, corresponds to 56,440 m2. The reclaimed area could be replaced with housing for 10,300 people. Or transformed into green infrastructure, like a small forest consisting of 1,350 trees that can bind 1,3 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year.

Shared mobility services have a role to play in the development of the modern city by bringing new solutions to help to overcome traditional challenges. Volvo Car Mobility, together with progressive partners; cities, property developers, companies and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) actively engage in projects driving the development of a healthy and more vibrant city life. For example, the project ‘Street Moves’ (ArkDes Think Tank, The City Of Stockholm, Vinnova, LundbergDesign, The Swedish Transportation Agency and Voi) and the Stockholm district of Haga Norra.

Read and download the full report, Sustainability Impact of Car Sharing 2020

About the survey
Capgemini Invent surveyed 9,955 private customers in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö during the period of July-October 2020. Respondents were asked questions on car ownership and driving behavior before and after using M, as well as whether they walk, cycle or use public transportation more often.

The research includes internal, external and secondary sources, national statistics and one-on-one interviews with several industry experts in urban planning, property development and research on car accidents.

About Volvo Car Mobility M
Volvo Car Mobility provides M, a smart mobility service offering urban individuals and businesses on-demand access to a car, without having to own one. By using the power of the access economy, M will be part of shaping a more sustainable city environment by enabling more people to move freely, meaningfully and sustainably.

M | Volvo Car Mobility is a wholly owned, independent subsidiary of the Volvo Car Group and a strategic investment to meet new consumer preferences. Volvo Car Mobility has 150 employees and the development company is located in Stockholm with local offices in Gothenburg and Malmö. M is available on the App Store and Google Play. Read more on m.co