The on demand economy doesn't just matter for workers, it matters for manufacturers. From automobiles to cleaning supplies, manufacturers are aware that the growth of on-demand goods and services means that their customer base is changing.
PEOPLE DON’T WANT cars, they want rides. That’s the existential fear plaguing automakers today. And they’re scrambling to do something about it. Just months after GM poured money into Lyft (the one with the pink mustasche), Toyota and Volkswagen both said today they were joining up with other ride-hailing rivals. In VW’s case, it’s investing $300 million in Israeli ride-hail startup Gett. Toyota, meanwhile, is partnering with Uber to, among other things, let people automatically deduct their car payments from the fares they make as Uber drivers.
http://www.wired.com/2016/05/calling-uber-cooler-owning-car-automakers-want/