Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Mobility Changes to Transportation to Accelerate in 2040

The emergence of ride hailing, autonomous vehicles, electrified vehicles, and other mobility trends should bring greater changes to transportation networks in the U.S., Europe, and China by 2040, according to a new report from IHS Markit.

by Staff
November 16, 2017
2 min to read


The emergence of ride hailing, autonomous vehicles, electrified vehicles, and other mobility trends should bring greater changes to transportation networks in the U.S., Europe, and China by 2040, according to a new report from IHS Markit.

In 23 years, vehicle miles traveled will reach an all-time high of around 11 billion per year, a 65% increase from 2017. At the same time, sales growth of new light-duty vehicles should slow substantially, according to the forecast.

Ad Loading...

The findings came in Reinventing the Wheel, a new scenario-based research initiative that analyzes the world's largest automotive markets.

"The shift is just beginning," said Daniel Yergin, IHS Markit vice chairman and project chairman. "By 2040, the changes in transportation will be accelerating in a way that will be visible on roads and highways around the world. The pace and degree of this dynamic shift will have significant implications for industry, for public transportation systems and for how people get to work and live their lives — and spend their money on transport."

The mobility as a service industry, as the survey is calling it, is expected to purchase 10 million cars in 2040 compared to 300,000 in 2017.

Sales of vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE) are expected to retreat, according to the study. ICE vehicles would still make up a majority of new vehicle sales in 2040 due to sales of mild to full hybrids. Vehicles powered solely by gasoline or diesel will have fallen below 50% of new vehicles sold by 2031.

Read more here.

More Operations

A Fleet Meets blue, red, and teal graphic with Eric Kilgore's headshot, title, and company.
Operationsby Faith HowellAugust 21, 2026

Fleet Meets: Eric Kilgore

This edition of the Fleet Meets series features one of the industry's best leaders driving multi-market and national operations.

Read More →
fleetio coast pay cost
SponsoredAugust 13, 2026

Why Reactive Fleet Management Is Becoming Too Expensive to Sustain

Research highlights a growing need for proactive management strategies to address rising costs in fleet operations effectively.

Read More →
"Element Mobility report cover with a utility fleet truck and the title 'What your fleet KPIs aren't telling you.'"
SponsoredAugust 12, 2026

What Your Fleet KPIs Aren’t Telling You

Tracking fleet metrics is only useful when the data leads to better decisions. This guide helps fleet leaders assess cost, utilization, and downtime more accurately, identify performance gaps, and prioritize the actions that can improve operational results.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Cover of the AgileFleet white paper "Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks" with the AgileFleet logo and a photo of fleet vehicles parked outside a government building.
SponsoredAugust 7, 2026

Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks

Fleet compliance isn't just about having policies — it's about consistently enforcing them. This practical guide reveals six hidden compliance risks common in public sector and shared fleet operations and outlines proven strategies to improve visibility, accountability, and audit readiness

Read More →
Turning Fleet Payment data into executive insights blue podcast thumbnail
OperationsAugust 5, 2026

Turning Fleet Payment Data into Executive Insights

Does data alone drive results in operations?

Read More →
Graphic promoting Automotive Fleet's 2026 Personal Use Survey with the text "Have a Personal Use Policy? We Want to Know!" encouraging fleet managers to complete the annual industry survey.
Operationsby StaffAugust 5, 2026

Automotive Fleet Opens 2026 Personal Use Survey for Commercial Fleet Managers

Commercial and corporate fleet managers are invited to share how their organizations handle company vehicle personal-use policies, charges, and driver eligibility.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Gary Van Orden Retirement
Operationsby Jeanny AbrahamJuly 31, 2026

Gary Van Orden Retires After Nearly Four Decades in Commercial Fleet

From answering customer calls at Ford Motor Company to leading fleet sales across multiple OEMs and a fleet management company, Gary Van Orden's career reflects nearly four decades of leadership in commercial fleet.

Read More →
an Automotive Fleet podcast thumbnail
OperationsJuly 31, 2026

How Stellantis Plans to Get Ahead of Fleet Downtime

Vehicle acquisition may grab the headlines, but fleet uptime increasingly determines operating success. Darren Bradshaw of ‪Mopar‬ North America gives the details.

Read More →
A lineup of Hyundai vehicles with overlay text announcing the 2027 Commercial Fleet Program, highlighting new fleet incentives for eligible commercial and government buyers.
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseJuly 31, 2026

Hyundai Releases 2027 Commercial Program Incentives 

The 2027 Model Year "Fleet Street Incentives" are available to commercial and government fleets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Chris Brown of Automotive Fleet and Lauren Fletcher of Work Truck pose beside a Soap Box Derby car in a Team Brown vs. Team Fletcher race graphic benefiting The Hourglass Foundation.
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseJuly 30, 2026

It's All Downhill from Here! Fleet Industry Raises $22,000 for Skilled Trades Scholarships

Work Truck’s Lauren Fletcher and Automotive Fleet’s Chris Brown turned a friendly racing rivalry into $22,000 for automotive technology and skilled trades scholarships.

Read More →