A surprising shift is emerging among younger consumers: owning a driving license is no longer seen as an essential milestone.

In China, the number of newly licensed drivers fell to 20.51 million in 2025, down 43% from a decade earlier. Similar trends are visible in Japan and the United States, where younger generations are increasingly questioning the necessity of owning and driving a car.

The change is being driven by several factors. Rising vehicle ownership costs, expensive parking, insurance and maintenance, combined with the growing convenience of ride-hailing services, have made private cars less attractive to some urban consumers.

At the same time, new energy vehicles are changing the meaning of driving itself. Advanced driver-assistance systems, intelligent cockpits and autonomous driving technologies are gradually reducing the amount of manual driving required. Robotaxis are also expanding in major cities, offering a new mobility model without private car ownership.

For automakers, this trend presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The future of mobility may not simply be about selling more cars, but about providing smarter, cleaner and more flexible transportation solutions.

As younger consumers shift from “owning” to “using,” the global automotive industry is entering a new era of mobility.