Review of vehicle ownership research: insights from the global south

Vehicle ownership (VO) is a critical aspect for transport planning, yet the research is dominated by the Global North, creating a significant gap in understanding the Global South. This paper addresses this gap, recognizing that the Global South is characterized by unique conditions such as high two-wheeler prevalence, persistent data scarcity, and distinct socio-economic drivers. This study conducts a systematic literature review to identify methodological and thematic gaps in VO research for this context. A Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) analysis of 433 article abstracts identified four key research clusters: Modelling approaches, Subjective aspects, Macro-economics and Policy, and Spatial characteristics. A subsequent in-depth review of 88 high-impact articles reveals a fundamental trade-off between model sophistication and data feasibility. Advanced longitudinal models were found to be impractical due to data unavailability, while standard cross-sectional models failed to capture the complex dynamics of mixed fleets (comprising cars and two-wheelers). Thematic gaps include the neglect of two-wheelers, unique status-driven vehicle transactions, and collectivist cultural factors. To address these challenges, the review highlights the need for a novel approach that simultaneously incorporates heterogeneity and state dependence. It concludes by proposing a future research agenda that leverages Retrospective Mobility Biography (RMB) surveys and life-course events, applying advanced modelling frameworks to capture heterogeneity and state-dependence in data-scarce environments effectively.