The End of the Driveway? Why Mobility-as-a-Service is Challenging the Future of Car Ownership

For over a century, the privately owned car has been more than just a mode of transport; it's been the ultimate symbol of freedom, personal identity, and the American dream. The driveway, the garage, the weekend wash—these are deeply ingrained cultural touchstones. But in an age of on-demand everything, a powerful new concept is emerging that asks a provocative question: What if you didn't need to own a car at all?

This is the promise of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), a transformative approach to transportation that is steadily gaining traction in cities around the world. As of October 2025, MaaS is moving from a futuristic buzzword to a practical reality for millions, forcing a serious debate about whether the era of mass private car ownership is finally beginning to fade.

What Exactly is Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS)?

At its core, MaaS is about ultimate convenience. It is a digital platform—typically a single smartphone app—that integrates various forms of transport services into one seamless experience. Instead of having separate apps for ride-hailing, public transit, bike-sharing, and car rentals, a MaaS platform brings them all together.

With a MaaS app, a user can:

• Plan a journey that might involve taking a train, then an e-scooter for the "last mile."

• Book all segments of that journey in one go.

• Pay for the entire trip through a single transaction, often via a monthly subscription plan similar to Netflix or Spotify.

Pioneering platforms like Whim in Helsinki and Jelbi in Berlin have demonstrated that this model can work, offering users a flexible and compelling alternative to owning a private car. The goal is to make getting around without a car so easy and efficient that ownership becomes a choice, not a necessity.

The Case for a Car-Free Future: The MaaS Advantage

The arguments for ditching car ownership in favor of MaaS are powerful, especially for those living in dense urban environments.

1. The Crushing Cost of Ownership: The biggest driver is economics. When you add up the monthly payments, insurance, fuel, maintenance, parking, and depreciation, the true cost of owning a car is staggering.⁷ For many, a car is the second-largest household expense after housing, yet it sits idle for an average of 95% of the time. MaaS replaces these high fixed costs with a flexible, pay-as-you-go model or a predictable monthly subscription that is often far cheaper.

2. The Power of Convenience: MaaS offers the ultimate flexibility. Need to get across town quickly during rush hour? The app might suggest the subway. Need to carry groceries? It can summon a ride-hailing service. Beautiful day? It can unlock a nearby e-bike. This on-demand access to the right mode of transport for every specific need is a level of convenience that a single, privately owned car can't match.

3. Environmental and Urban Benefits: MaaS is a key enabler of shared and public transportation. By making these options more attractive, it has the potential to significantly reduce the number of private cars on the road, which in turn alleviates traffic congestion, frees up land currently used for parking, and lowers overall carbon emissions.

Why Car Ownership Endures: The Roadblocks for MaaS

Despite its compelling advantages, reports of the car's death are greatly exaggerated. Car ownership remains deeply entrenched for several key reasons.

• The Urban-Rural Divide: The MaaS model works brilliantly in dense, well-connected cities with a rich variety of transport options. However, in suburban and rural areas where public transit is sparse and distances are great, the private car remains an essential lifeline, not a luxury.

• The Emotional Connection: For many, a car is not just a tool; it's a personal space, a status symbol, and an object of passion. The emotional and cultural attachment to car ownership is a powerful force that a purely utilitarian service cannot easily replace.

• The "Just in Case" Factor: The private car offers a sense of security and preparedness. Parents with young children, people with unpredictable schedules, or those who need to transport bulky items rely on the immediate, "just in case" availability that their own car provides.

• MaaS is Still Maturing: While successful in some cities, widespread MaaS implementation faces significant hurdles, including integrating the payment and data systems of dozens of different public and private transport providers.

Conclusion: A Changing Role, Not Obsolescence

So, is car ownership becoming obsolete? The answer, as of 2025, is a firm "no." However, the necessity of car ownership is undeniably diminishing, especially in urban centers. MaaS is not killing the car, but it is fundamentally changing our relationship with it.

The most likely future is a hybrid one. We will likely see a decline in multi-car households, as families realize they can replace their second (or third) car with a MaaS subscription. The car's role may shift from a daily commuter tool to a specialized vehicle used for weekend trips, family holidays, or specific tasks. MaaS and private car ownership are not mutually exclusive enemies; they are two sides of a new, more flexible, and more efficient mobility ecosystem that is just beginning to take shape.