Low carbon mobility versus private car ownership: Towards a new business vision for the automotive world?

This article considers a generalized leasing model for car use as a means of better reconciling profit seeking by car makers with environmental improvements, while supporting income generation and employment in the car business sector. It locates its contribution against the ‘extended producer responsibility’ framework, proposed by some as a basis for a corporate response to environmental and resource concerns. We show that within limits a reorganization of the business model informing the volume car market offers one part of a solution to problems of economic growth and climate change. The article progresses to consider obstacles to change and options for government policy.