A recent study conducted by the Institute for Demoscopy Allensbach on behalf of the Association of the German Automotive Industry (VDA) has examined the importance of cars and individual mobility in Germany. The study surveyed 1,011 people aged 16 and over between July 7 and 19, 2023, and divided participants into groups based on the size of their place of residence. The majority of Germans (74%) stated that cars are essential to their daily lives, with bicycles (49%), public transportation (41%), and regional and intercity trains (29%) being less important. Interestingly, rural and urban perspectives differ significantly, with 84% of people in rural areas unable to imagine life without their car, compared to only 3% in urban areas.
The study also found that most participants (75%) believe that individuals can play a significant role in improving climate protection in the transportation sector. However, more people believe that the main responsibility lies with the federal government (83%) and the automotive industry (80%). Over half of Germans (56%) stated that they are highly willing to adapt their mobility behavior for climate protection, but when it comes to concrete steps, only 16% saw room for change. Particularly in smaller communities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, 88% of respondents found adapting their mobility challenging.
The study also revealed that despite the increasing awareness of climate change, young people still prefer cars over other modes of transportation. The inadequate charging infrastructure often prevents the purchase of electric cars, with only a small percentage of respondents rating the charging options in their area positively. The majority of respondents were dissatisfied with the charging infrastructure in their area, with energy companies, the government, and gas station operators being seen as primarily responsible for necessary improvements.
