Conclusion

Many of the mobility challenges facing older adults in China are reflective of those elsewhere in the world, with poor accessibility, quality issues and limited choice creating barriers to leading healthier longer lives. However, with the largest global population of older adults, a different political system to western countries, and its own cultural approaches, trends in the region are unfolding quite differently from those in the west.

The Governments ‘Common Prosperity’ initiative, which looks to address inequalities will become the foundation for all policy, economic, and innovation activities in years to come. The design and development of China’s next generation of mobility solutions will be based on what different people need, want, desire and aspire to have at different stages in their life. as the government looks to ensure that people can be more resilient and have options, wherever they live, whatever their circumstances.

Underpinning this is the changing expectations of Chinese older adults. Leading, longer more prosperous lives than previous generations, a new wave of older adults brings with them new expectations and mindsets about how they want to live. This change will mean that providers of mobility and gait solutions will need to adapt to meet more active lifestyles, health-conscious mindsets and a thirst for retaining the independence they have enjoyed throughout their lives.

China will continue to be a front-runner in the testing and deployment of technology lead mobility solutions such as autonomous vehicles, exoskeletons and flying taxi’s, with all offering an opportunity to revolutionise the lives of older adults.

However, as this report has outlined, digital technology cannot be relied on alone if the country is to meet the needs of its growing population of older adults. Innovations in materials, form, service design and application are also needed to address health issues, improve accessibility, reduce inequality, and empower independence, so should not be overlooked.

As we look to the years to come, the creation of mobility solutions that provide greater longevity should be viewed as an opportunity to improve the lives of all. An holistic approach will be key and companies should consider their direct and indirect impact on health and wellbeing. For example, vehicles that can help you attend social events to improve your mental health, whilst also cleaning the air you breathe.

Identifying and acting on the key trends which have been highlighted within this report and are related to your mobility product or service will help your company to flourish in the Chinese market in the years to come. At NICA we can help you take this further with our unique branded approach, Ageing Intelligence® - combining research expertise in understanding the correlation between market demands, industry dynamics and people’s needs, applying to that the latest in artificial intelligence and evidence from big data, alongside what is arguably the key intelligence: human experience. By harnessing the immense wisdom, insights and experience of citizens and their stakeholders – their human capital – we rapidly translate this intelligence to co-create, design, develop and bring to the market products and services that are urgently needed across the world to help people have choices to live healthier, better and longer lives.

© Ave Calvar