The expressway service area is a facility that provides rest, refueling, catering, shopping and other services for drivers and passengers along the expressway. It is an important part of the expressway. With the growth of global car ownership and the increase of travel demand, the role of highway service areas has become increasingly prominent and has become an indispensable part of the journey. According to data from the Champ Consulting Group,2023The global highway service area market size is expected to reach1,230Billion US dollars, year-on-year growth8.7%, is expected2028The year will reach1,850US $billion, with a compound annual growth rate8.5%。

In terms of geographical distribution, Europe is the world's largest highway service area market, accounting40%market share, mainly due to its well-established highway network and mature service area operating model. North America followed, occupying30%market share, mainly benefiting from its large automotive consumer market and diversified service area brands. The Asia-Pacific region is the world's fastest-growing highway service area market.2023Year-round growth12%, mainly benefiting from its rapidly developing economic and transportation infrastructure and increased travel demand.

From the perspective of development trend, the expressway service area industry is facing great development opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, with the development and popularization of new energy vehicles, smart cars, autonomous driving and other technologies, expressway service areas need to adapt to new technological changes and customer needs, and provide more intelligent, convenient and personalized services. For example, highway service areas that provide facilities such as electric vehicle charging piles, driverless parking lots, and vending machines have emerged in Europe and North America. On the other hand, with the improvement of consumers' awareness of health, environmental protection and safety, highway service areas need to improve their service quality and efficiency, reduce the impact on the environment, and ensure the safety and comfort of passengers. For example, in the Asia-Pacific region, there have been highway service areas that provide services such as healthy food, green energy, and emergency relief.

From the perspective of the competition pattern, the degree of competition in the expressway service area industry varies from place to place, but the overall characteristics are diversified and centralized. In mature markets such as Europe and North America, the operation of highway service areas is mainly undertaken by private enterprises, forming some leading enterprises with strong brand influence and market share, such as the UK'sMotorbike、Welcome BreakandRoadChefof France.TotalandSodexo, U. S.Pilot Flying JandLove’s Travel StopsWait. These enterprises have improved their competitive advantage and profitability through continuous innovation and expansion. In emerging markets such as the Asia-Pacific region, the operation of highway service areas is mainly undertaken by the government or state-owned enterprises, forming some leading enterprises with strong scale effects and resource advantages, such as China's Zhejiang-Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo, Nanjing-Shanghai Expressway and Jiangxi-Guangdong Expressway, Japan'sNEXCOandJAFWait. These enterprises have improved their service level and management efficiency through continuous reform and transformation.

Shangpu Consulting believes that the expressway service area industry is an industry closely related to economic development, traffic demand, and consumption habits, and has strong development potential and market space. With the progress and transformation of the global automotive industry and transportation infrastructure, the highway service area industry also needs to accelerate innovation and transformation, improve service quality and efficiency, and meet diversified customer needs. At the same time, the expressway service area industry also needs to strengthen cooperation and competition, form a benign market order and development mechanism, and achieve sustainable development.