Commuting Stalls in the Age of COVID-19: Cars.com Finds 62% of Americans Are Trading in Public Transit for Personal Vehicles and 35% Say Commuter Life Has Changed Forever

Rhea-AI Summary

Cars.com (NYSE: CARS) reports significant shifts in commuting patterns, revealing that as of August 2020, 66% of Americans are saving 30 minutes or more daily due to remote work. The study finds that 43% of Americans distrust public transport, leading to a 62% increase in personal vehicle use. Notably, 21% of commuters have purchased cars in the last six months, with 57% attributing this to the pandemic. Additionally, 35% anticipate commuting less even after returning to the office, indicating long-term changes in transportation behavior.

Positive

• 66% of Americans save 30 minutes or more daily due to remote work.
• 21% of commuters purchased cars in the last six months, 57% due to the pandemic.
• 62% of workers are increasingly using personal vehicles over public transport.

Negative

• 43% of Americans lack faith in fellow passengers to follow health protocols.
• 35% of future commuters plan to commute less post-pandemic.

CHICAGO, Aug. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cars.com (NYSE: CARS), a leading digital automotive marketplace and solutions provider, shares new data revealing changes to Americans' everyday work commute as many plan (or plan not) to head back to the office in the weeks and months to come. Cars.com finds¹ more than a third of Americans are currently working from home, putting greater reliance on their personal vehicle. Sixty-six percent of workers are saving valuable time on their commutes, leaving subway cars, bus seats and train platforms largely empty as they continue to ditch the office.

"As much of the American office workforce continues to work remotely, there is a major shift in commuting behavior, which is likely to have a lasting impact long after we return to the office," said Matt Schmitz, assistant managing editor for Cars.com. "Workers are saving up to an hour or more a day by not commuting, and finding significant value in this newfound gift of time. And when they do finally return to the office, it won't be via mass transit. Personal vehicles will dominate the work commute as distrust in public transport and ride-sharing continues."

According to the new Cars.com study:

The work commute has changed, possibly forever.

• 43% of Americans lack faith in fellow passengers to abide by health and safety protocols, while 57% at least moderately trust other passengers.
• 30% of those who are currently working at an office at least part-time are commuting less often.
• 35% of future commuters

plan to commute less, even after returning to work in person.

Sixty-two percent of workers swap public transportation for their car.

• 21% have purchased a car in the last six months, with 57% saying it was due to the pandemic.
• 65% of bus riders have stopped riding or are riding less frequently.
• 60% of subway or commuter rail riders have stopped riding or are riding less frequently.
• 59% are using ride-sharing less often than before.
• 49% believe it will be at least three months before travel on mass transit returns to pre-COVID levels. An additional 7% state they will never resume their pre-COVID mass transit levels.

Sixty-six percent of Americans are saving 30 minutes or more per day on their commute.

• 40% of commuters are saving up to one hour per day.
• 26% of commuters are saving more than one hour per day.

The newfound gift of time allows Americans to relax, connect and invest in themselves.

• 43% of would-be commuters are watching more TV and movies with their extra time.
• 38% are spending more time exercising.
• 33% are spending their spare time with family and friends.
• 19% are using the extra time to work more.

For more information, visit Cars.com.

¹ All data referenced comes from Cars.com's survey results Aug. 13-14, 2020; 3,062 respondents

About CARS
CARS is a leading digital marketplace and solutions provider for the automotive industry that connects car shoppers with sellers. Launched in 1998 with the flagship marketplace Cars.com and headquartered in Chicago, the Company empowers shoppers with the data, resources and digital tools needed to make informed buying decisions and seamlessly connect with automotive retailers. In a rapidly changing market, CARS enables dealerships and OEMs with innovative technical solutions and data-driven intelligence to better reach and influence ready-to-buy shoppers, increase inventory turn and gain market share. In 2018, CARS acquired Dealer Inspire, an innovative technology company building solutions that future-proof dealerships with more efficient operations, a faster and easier car buying process, and connected digital experiences that sell and service more vehicles.

CARS properties include Cars.com™, DealerRater®, Dealer Inspire®, Auto.com™, PickupTrucks.com™ and NewCars.com®. For more information, visit www.Cars.com.

 

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SOURCE Cars.com Inc.

FAQ

What changes in commuting behavior did Cars.com report on August 24, 2020?

Cars.com reported that 66% of Americans are saving 30 minutes or more on their commute due to remote work, with 21% purchasing cars recently.

What percentage of Americans distrust public transportation according to Cars.com?

43% of Americans reported lacking faith in fellow passengers to follow health and safety protocols.

What does Cars.com predict about the future of commuting after COVID-19?

Cars.com found that 35% of future commuters plan to commute less, even after returning to in-person work.