For many years, the car was always something people strove to own. The symbol of adulthood and freedom, and after a certain price point, one of the most tangible symbols of wealth and success. As data from the ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Global Consumer Survey shows though, the car's status as an aspirational purchase may have diminished in some countries, especially in developed economies.
When comparing the responses for non-owners of cars, the share saying that they intend to purchase one in the future varies greatly around the world. In Nigeria, for example, the majority of people without a car would in fact like to have one at some point. In Japan, where 25 percent of respondents didn't have their own car, a mere 6 percent signified dissatisfaction with this situation. In countries such as Finland, the Netherlands and Germany too, it appears that for most people that don't have a car, this has been a conscious decision, rather than a situation borne out of necessity.
Brazil and South Africa join Nigeria with a majority of non-owners still aspiring to buy a car. Pakistan and India are other developing/emerging economies at the top of the ranking. The United States, well-known for its love affair with the automobile, finds its place around the middle of the pack with 33 percent.
