The Ipsos Mobility Report 2026

Welcome to the 2026 Ipsos Mobility Report. The study looks at how mobility choices shape our societies—from access and inclusion to safety, liveability, and climate impact. Around the world, mobility is both deeply personal and profoundly public: it determines who can reach jobs, schools, and care, how our streets feel, and whether we meet environmental goals.

Key Findings

Safety risk an issue with self-driving cars.
On average people are split on whether they would feel safe riding in a self-driving (36% safe vs 36% unsafe). However, there are big divides across countries. In Asia Pacific and LATAM people are more likely to say they would feel safe (45% and 41% respectively). While Europe and North America are more likely to feel unsafe. In North America 53% on average say they would not safe and 49% of Europeans feel the same.

Lack of appetite for electric cars in North America and Europe.
While 47% of people across 31 countries say driving an electric vehicle is appealing to them, in North America and Europe interest is lower. In the US, Canada, Germany, Belgium, France, Poland and Japan people are more likely to say they do not want to drive an EV than driving one. These countries are also less likely to think EVs positively impact the environment than the 31-country average.

For many, having a car is an essential part of their life.
Forty-three per cent of drivers across 31 countries feel it would be impossible for them to live without their car. This feeling is highest in the US (65%), France (64%) and Canada (59%). Forty-three per cent of drivers say they could live without their car, but would prefer not to.

Cars are also people’s favourite mode of transport.
In 22 of the 31 countries surveyed people are most likely to choose a car for their favourite mode of transport. On average 33% say they enjoy is the type of transport they enjoy most, followed by walking (22%). In three countries – Great Britain, Ireland and Argentina – are people most likely to choose walking as what they enjoy most.

Widespread concerns about road safety.
Fifty-five per cent across 31 countries are worried about road safety in their area, with Peru (76%) and South Africa (76%) the countries most likely to say this. There is support for stricter traffic laws to improve road safety, as well support for lower speed limits. There is stronger support for lowering speed limits in residential areas (70%) than on motorways or freeways (56%). Among G7 countries support falls to 45% for lowering speed limits on motorways.

A majority in all 31 countries surveyed support cycle lanes.
Across 31 countries 67% support the use of dedicated cycle lanes on roads, with only 12% against their introduction. In all of the 31 countries surveyed do at least one in two people support the cycle lanes. Canada is the least likely to support this, but still 52% agree with the cycle lanes and only 23% disagree.