The private automobile has been an intrinsic part of our lives for around a hundred years. But over the last decade, car sharing has gained a very small but growing part of the mobility market. The more recent rise of companies like Uber and Lyft is witness to a more dramatic shift in mobility and car ownership. Private vehicle ownership to a transportation-as-a-service model has already started, and high capability SAE Level 4 vehicles will complete this trend. Cars, Ownership & FreedomThe modern automobile has played a fundamental role in shaping North American society and culture. Ever since Ford’s first moving assembly lines and the mass-production of vehicles started in 1913, the car has changed how and where people live and work. Massive roadway infrastructure has been implemented to support these vehicles, from local streets to major interstates. Using a car on this vast road network makes it possible to travel from almost anywhere in North America to nearly anyone’s front…more