Perceptions and aspirations for car ownership among Chinese students attending two universities in the Yangtze Delta, China

► We surveyed Chinese student attitudes on car ownership in Zhenjiang and Shanghai. ► Attitudes measured as psychosocial e.g. status symbol, or instrumental e.g. speed. ► Chinese students profess strong latent desire for car ownership. ► Psychosocial value of cars more influential than instrumental value. ► Psychosocial value likely to be framed by the immediate social environment.