Vehicle holding path transitions: A latent class model using retrospective survey data

Understanding the dynamics of vehicle holding paths is critical in developing any dynamic model of activity-travel behaviour. Moreover, knowledge of engine type is required to calculate emission levels. Assuming that some individuals and households show high similarity in their vehicle holdings over time, a potentially important stepping stone in this model development is the identification of latent patterns in transitions in vehicle holding paths. In this paper, transitions between vehicle types in vehicle holding paths were derived from retrospective data. A latent class model is used to derive a segmentation of respondents based on their similarity in transitions. Results for three latent classes indicate the existence of a latent class, predominantly loyal to small family cars, and another latent class loyal to medium-sized cars. However, there is also a substantial degree of transition between these car types. A third latent class is dominated by loyalty to MPV/SUV cars.