A Market Segmentation Analysis for an eVTOL Air Taxi Shuttle

ABSTRACT

This paper presents details of a market segmentation analysis conducted using data from a stated preference survey we designed to model competition among an electric air taxi service, autonomous ground vehicles, and traditional ground vehicles for an air taxi shuttle to major commercial airports in the United States. This paper is based on data collected from January 8 to April 7, 2021, and includes 2,439 responses from individuals who took at least two trips by air in 2019 before COVID-19;have annual household incomes of at least $75K;and live in the Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas–Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, New York, or San Francisco combined statistical areas (CSAs). Factor analysis of respondents’ perceptions of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft identified two dimensions Concern and Enthusiasm. Cluster analysis of the scores on these factors identified seven meaningful clusters, which differed on a variety of demographic, travel behavior, and attitudinal variables, as well as on respondents’ inclination to adopt eVTOL for traveling to a commercial airport. © 2021, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA. All rights reserved.