The future of mobility impact of robotaxis on the european passenger transportation industry

Abstract

Automation, connectivity, electrification, and shared mobility are the dominant trends transforming the passenger transportation industry. Together they form what is considered one of the most disruptive means of transportation of the future, the robotaxi. This master thesis explores the impact of robotaxis on the future of the passenger transportation industry, with particular attention to the usage perspectives and mobility behavior of consumers. The results are based on an exploratory analysis involving seven in-depth semi-structured expert interviews, a consumer survey, and existing literature. Usage perspectives were observed through a use case analysis that identified work-related commuting as the use case with the highest application potential. In the light of work-related commuting, the thesis revealed that robotaxis significantly reduce commuters’ value of time and display an attractive mobility alternative from a cost perspective. In addition, it is shown that in the next ten years, consumer preferences regarding consumers’ transportation choice significantly shift towards robotaxis. The research reveals that the industry’s most likely future state is characterized by the gradual introduction of robotaxis. Therefore, in five to ten years, robotaxis are used by early adopters and will impose significant changes in industry dynamics as competition increases and new revenue streams emerge. The results intend to enable industry players to target specific consumers, derive strategic implications, business models, and vehicle concepts. Further, they contribute to an objective scientific, political, and social discussion and serve as a basis for further research in the field of robotaxis.

Date of Award	12 Oct 2020
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	André de Almeida Pinho (Supervisor)