Gen Z travelers are spending more time behind the wheel, according to Enterprise’s latest survey, which found weekly car usage among the generation has climbed to 66%—up from 62% last year. 52% of Gen Z respondents also reported driving their car this year more than last year.
The survey showed Gen Z travelers use mass rapid transit, hailing services, and the public bus system more than any other generation.
"Gen Z’s transportation habits defy easy categorization," said Will Withington, executive vice president of global operations at Enterprise Mobility. “This survey gives us valuable insight into how we can deliver mobility solutions that are people-centric and forward thinking."
Automotive Technology
As automakers continue to digitize the interface of new cars, consumers are indicating they prefer a more balanced approach. Over half of the people surveyed said that they would prefer a mix of touch screens and physical buttons.
54% of Americans believe new cars have too much technology, and 68% of drivers said they would give up the latest tech for a more affordable vehicle.
Despite this, safety features are still viewed as must-haves. 47% responded that they would rather have advanced driver assistance features in their vehicles, including blind spot detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warnings.
47% of U.S. drivers expect rental vehicles to have the latest technology, making rental cars a good option for testing new features without fully committing.
Self-Driving Cars
Among the 10% surveyed who had ridden in an autonomous vehicle (AV), 92% walked away with the same or better perception of AVs. Despite this, Americans' comfort level with this technology has dropped 5 percentage points year over year.
Technical errors, safety fears, and preferring to control their own destiny top the list of worries from those cautious of AVs. However, 60% of Americans who are excited about AVs believe they can be game changers for people who can’t or don’t drive.
"There’s still some hesitation around AVs, but these insights reinforce the fact that experiencing technology changes everything," said Haffenreffer, vice president of strategy at Enterprise Mobility.
Electric Vehicles
The craze around electric vehicles seems to be slowing down, as overall EV consideration has only gone up 1% from2024. The top deterrents are up-front costs (35%) and range anxiety (35%).
People who have owned EVs in the past are still very likely to continue down that path, with 93% of them considering purchasing an EV in the future, but new buyers are not flocking to the gasless alternative like they once were.
"For nearly 70 years, Enterprise Mobility’s business has been grounded in listening to the people we serve," said Withington. "The results of this survey make clear that no matter how mobility evolves, the goal remains the same: Solutions that keep people at the center."
The Mobility Survey was conducted online between April 30 and May 17, 2025, among a population of 3,000 total adults across the U.S. (n=1,500) and the U.K. (n=1,500). The generation splits for the U.K. were Gen Z (17%), Millennials (28%), Gen X (25%), Baby Boomers (24%), and Silent Generation (6%).
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