Differences in future car-purchase intentions between undergraduates from car-owning households and non-car households

Existing studies have revealed the impact of psychological factors on future car-purchase intentions among undergraduates. However, whether these effects differ across household car ownership contexts remains unclear. With the survey data from Nanjing, China, this study compares the car-purchase intentions of undergraduates from car-owning households and non-car households, treating household car ownership as a long-term mobility context. A partial least squares structural equation model is employed to examine the group difference in the effects of psychological factors. The multi-group analysis shows that undergraduates from car-owning households pose stronger future car purchase intentions than those from non-car households do. The difference is explained by the disparity in students' attitudes toward cars and public transportation. Undergraduates from car-owning households are more positively influenced by instrumental value and independence perceived from cars, whereas undergraduates from non-car households exhibit stronger car purchase intentions driven primarily by subjective social norms and symbolic/affective values. Negative public transit services have an impact of similar extents, regardless of whether their households own a car or not. Further analysis reveals substantial heterogeneity within car-owning households. Willingness to use public transport significantly moderates the effects of symbolic/affective value and social norms, while gender and driving license ownership also shape specific psychological paths. The results suggest that policies aimed at shaping individuals’ perceptions of car use and sustainable transport should account for heterogeneity across household and individual backgrounds.