Demand for Carsharing Systems in Beijing, China

Rising auto ownership in China brings significant urban and environmental challenges. Since China is still in the early stages of motorization, there are opportunities to introduce alternatives to personal vehicle ownership. The authors conducted a survey with 800 Beijing residents; collecting data on transportation patterns, automobile ownership, environmental attitudes, and carsharing response. Fifteen of those participants were selected to complete an in-depth questionnaire discussing how they would use carsharing services. This paper assesses the potential for carsharing systems within Beijing, China based on this exploratory study. While the results suggest that carsharing models integrated into existing transit networks could become an important mobility option within China’s rapidly growing cities, further study is recommended.