Abstract
The rapid development of automobile use in major Chinese metropolises demonstrate the transformation of daily mobility behavior. The socio-economic reforms set in place since the Maoist period, aiming at establishing new urban mechanisms, contribute in recomposing space organization. The evolution of individual space, assessed by the «danwei» work units, changes the perspective of daily practices (especially those of mobility). Within this context, the multiplication of automobile trips corresponds to an adaptation to urban changes in process. Carrying onto the individual level, automobile use raises essential questions for a Chinese urban planning that is sensitive to density management and shortage of space resources.