Skip to main content

Nearly 25% of UK millennials ‘favour renting cars’ – new research

Nearly a quarter of UK millennials would forgo buying a car and are likely to subscribe to a car-as-a-service scheme within the next year, according to new research. The study by cloud software subscription service Zuora states UK millennials are ‘key drivers’ for the ‘subscription economy’, with 73% looking to increase subscription use over the next two years. Zuora’s A Nation Subscribed research involved 2,000 consumers and was carried out by YouGov. It shows 77% of 16-24 year olds and 85% of 25-34
October 9, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Nearly a quarter of UK millennials would forgo buying a car and are likely to subscribe to a car-as-a-service scheme within the next year, according to new research.


The study by cloud software subscription service Zuora states UK millennials are ‘key drivers’ for the ‘subscription economy’, with 73% looking to increase subscription use over the next two years.

Zuora’s A Nation Subscribed research involved 2,000 consumers and was carried out by YouGov. It shows 77% of 16-24 year olds and 85% of 25-34 year olds subscribe to at least one product and/or service – such as gym membership or music streaming sites.

Also, around half of both millennial age groups believe subscriptions are the future, with 31% of 16-24-year-olds expressing interest in connected and self-driving cars.    

Nearly half of respondents rank convenience as the main benefit of using subscription services, followed by cost (29%) and ease of use (27%).

John Phillips, Zuora managing director for EMEA, says millennials are adopting subscriptions at a rapid pace and are pushing companies to rethink their business model.

“It’s likely that as the UK evolves to become smarter, fully connected and more efficient, we’ll see a new generation of businesses catering to this trend,” Phillips adds.

Related Content

  • July 18, 2017
    Authorities look to MaaS for new solutions and cost savings
    The structure of society and the way in which our cities work will be completely transformed by Mobility as a Service (MaaS), Finland’s minister of transport and communications Anne Berner, told ITS International’s recent MaaS Market conference 2017 in London. In her keynote address, Berner told a packed audience of more than 200 ITS professionals that MaaS has the potential to help governments around the world meet their big city targets such as the rate of employment, the environment, the efficient use of
  • June 4, 2018
    Ideagen software used by ConnectPlus for M25 project
    UK technology company Ideagen's Coruson software will be utilised by ConnectPlus consortium to improve safety, quality and environmental processes for the renewal of the M25 motorway. Around 650 users will report into the quality management system. ConnectPlus is managing the 25-year phase of the Design, Build, Finance and Operate upgrade and maintenance project. The firm helps supervise subcontractors as well as provide maintenance work and small improvement schemes. Phillip Ross, head of health, sa
  • May 9, 2012
    New revenue streams for transit operators through NFC
    NXP has claimed the top spot in the contactless ticketing market in ABI Research’s new market analysis. Shipments of the Mifare range (Classic, Plus, Ultralight, and DESFire) remain strong despite some security concerns around the Classic product. ABI says that overall, Mifare has withstood scrutiny and demonstrates that the highest level of security is not an overriding factor in adoption with the focus on cost effectiveness, convenience, and reliability. The lack of alternative solutions has helped cement
  • September 4, 2018
    Avoiding a tangle
    The ITS industry will get into a ‘terrific mess’ if it doesn’t sort out the question of interoperability, says Georg Kapsch. He talks to Alan Dron about data, connectivity – and why governments should stay out of technology issues Governments should set a regulatory framework to help shape the direction of road technologies - but then stand aside and allow industry to create the necessary technologies, according to a European pioneer in the field. Georg Kapsch, CEO of Kapsch Group and Kapsch TrafficCom,