Skip to main content

Car-sharing operators move to smartphone-based car access systems

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Strategic Analysis of the Vehicle-sharing Technologies Market, finds that the global car-sharing user base will reach 26 million members by 2020. Car-sharing operators (CSOs) in North America will lead the way in terms of technology deployments, followed by Europe. To meet the growing demand, partnerships among CSOs, technology companies and original equipment manufacturers will gather pace. Over the years, vehicle-sharing technologies have evolved from simple manual
November 27, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
New analysis from 2097 Frost & Sullivan, Strategic Analysis of the Vehicle-sharing Technologies Market, finds that the global car-sharing user base will reach 26 million members by 2020. Car-sharing operators (CSOs) in North America will lead the way in terms of technology deployments, followed by Europe. To meet the growing demand, partnerships among CSOs, technology companies and original equipment manufacturers will gather pace.

Over the years, vehicle-sharing technologies have evolved from simple manual systems to increasingly complex computer-based systems. In the next three to seven years, the market will move away from off-the-shelf technologies toward open source software, plug and play systems and smartphone-based near field communications/ Bluetooth low energy (NFC/BLE) technologies. By 2025, automated driving, connected mobility and electric vehicle charging technologies will form the crux of the vehicle-sharing technology market.

“NFC based technologies are being incorporated as a basic standard in smartphones by the majority of the smartphone makers. This will unearth opportunities for cost-effective, smartphone-based remote vehicle control solutions,” said Frost & Sullivan intelligent mobility senior research analyst Albert Geraldine Priya. “CSOs will also be able to deliver a superior ‘car ownership’ experience through automatic personalisation features such as rear-view mirror and seat adjustments configured in the smartphone.”

On the flip side, smartphone-based access control and vehicle tracking solutions have several inherent security issues. The risk of hacking, interception of communication signals, thefts, data corruption and viruses will delay the adoption of smartphone-based vehicle-sharing solutions.

Concerns surrounding the effective integration of third party hardware and software solutions with business processes deter most car-sharing operators from subscribing to third-party services. In addition, legal regulations in some countries fail to create an environment conducive to the uptake of vehicle-sharing technologies. However, the advantages far outweigh the challenges.

“CSOs are looking to attract more subscribers by lowering costs and enhancing user experience through the integration of smartphone-based keyless access into car-sharing solutions,” noted Priya. “Semi-autonomous and fully autonomous cars in vehicle-sharing fleets will become a reality by 2018 and 2025 respectively, further simplifying car-sharing and opening up additional markets for participants in the vehicle-sharing technologies market.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Saving the smartphone zombies from themselves
    October 15, 2020
    As roads – particularly in cities – become busier, companies are fielding a steady trickle of products to keep pedestrians safe and vehicles flowing
  • Report forecasts major growth in smart parking
    September 24, 2013
    According to new analysis by Frost & Sullivan, Future of Vehicle Parking Management Systems in North America and Europe, growth opportunities are expected to attract new start-ups in the parking industry, providing real-time parking applications. The industry is expected to witness investments and funding from venture capitalist (VC) firms, ranging from US$200-$250 million in the next three to five years. This is made evident through the emergence of companies, such as Streetline (US and Europe), ParkatmyHo
  • Smartphone - the next technology for charging and tolling?
    January 25, 2012
    With all the debates over the most suitable future technology or technologies for charging and tolling, is it not time for the industry to look at what the rest of ITS is doing and bring a rank outsider - the smart phone - closer into the fold? By Jack Opiola, D'Artagnan Consulting LLC
  • Hurdles to MaaS adoption highlighted
    January 25, 2018
    Jack Opiola talks to some MaaS advocates in the US. Cities will accommodate almost 60% of the world’s population by 2025 and technology is outpacing transportation plans and planners - putting extreme pressures upon planners and transportation systems alike. Big data, digital payments, ubiquitous communications, smartphone applications, on-demand travel and autonomous vehicles are all shredding existing transport plans. Never before has the pace of population growth and the tools to address this problem