Survey shows rental support
Research by YouGov reveals more than half a million Kiwis plan to ditch their own cars and move to a short-term rental model in a bid to have more flexibility around the choice of vehicles they drive and when.
More than two-in-three – some 69 per cent – expect priorities in their usage to change in the next five years with around 626,000 New Zealanders indicating they will move to a subscription model.
The research was part of a report commissioned by Avis NZ and conducted by YouGov Research to provide a full picture of the changing interests and needs of road trippers over the past 12 months and into the future.
Men are more likely than women to change the way they use their cars over the next five years – 75 per cent compared to 64 per cent. Men have a stronger interest in subscription culture at 21 per cent compared to 11 per cent.
These changing attitudes and trends around car ownership are most prevalent among millennials with 31 per cent expecting to use a subscription because it gives them the freedom of having a vehicle at their disposal when they want it.
Bryn McGoldrick, general manager of Avis NZ, says alternative ownership models are on the rise internationally with subscription programmes predicted to account for nearly 15 per cent of all new-vehicle sales in 2025.
“Our research shows Kiwis are increasingly looking to have access to a car rather than having to own one,” he adds. “Avis Flex offers customers an economical hassle-free, temporary car solution with easy cancellation and return policies.
“Avis customers can also swap their car up to three times in 11 months, which allows them to have a car that suits their lifestyle. They’re also a great ‘toe in the water’ for electric vehicles allowing people to test for longer before they buy or long-term subscribe to EV.”
This was also supported by the research results with three-in-five Kiwis – 60 per cent – saying they would rent to try an electric car before buying.
Other key findings reveal that in the next five years, one-in-five, or 21 per cent, expect to downsize the vehicle they use to something more economical and almost 100,000 Kiwis expect to not be using a car at all.
