The world of mobility and transportation is on the brink of a revolution. Technological advancements, evolving consumer preferences, and environmental concerns are converging to shape a future that promises to transform how we move people and goods.
Innovation managers play a critical role in the future of mobility by identifying emerging trends, fostering an innovation culture, harnessing technology advancements, collaborating with external partners, navigating regulations, managing disruptions and risks, and driving customer-centric solutions. They are responsible for staying updated on the latest developments in autonomous vehicles, shared mobility, and multimodal transportation. They proactively manage disruptions and risks while focusing on customer needs to develop personalized and efficient mobility experiences. Overall, innovation managers are instrumental in shaping and navigating the future of mobility.
In this article, we delve into the multifaceted aspects of the future of mobility and transportation. We explore the key trends and innovations that are set to reshape our cities, enhance our daily lives, and forge a more sustainable and interconnected world.
Traffic jams, long commutes, noise, and pollution have become major blights on urban life. As the global population grows and becomes increasingly urbanized, these problems are likely to escalate. Already, 56 percent of the world’s population live in cities; by 2050, nearly seven in ten people will do so. Even cities without projected population growth grapple with transport volumes that put pressure on urban space and infrastructure.
Urbanization is continuing at a rapid clip. By 2030, the United Nations estimates that megacities (metropolises with at least 10 million residents) will be home to more than 750 million people, a 35% increase from today. Meanwhile, cities with over 1 million inhabitants are projected to have an aggregate population of 2.3 billion people, with much of that population concentrated in emerging markets. Growing populations, aging and inefficient transport systems, and rising car ownership in the world’s biggest cities are leading to greater congestion and reduced productivity. According to the World Economic Forum, the number of cars worldwide is set to soar in the decades ahead, climbing from 1.1 billion in 2019 to 2.0 billion by 2040. Inadequate transport systems are also a significant cause of poor health (from emissions and road accidents) and exacerbate social inequality in cities by restricting access to education, jobs, and health care.
The answer to urban transport problems was supposed to be on-demand, shared mobility solutions. But in the absence of municipal intervention, many cities today are swamped with rival offerings as multiple players compete for market share. This state of affairs has resulted in significant private-sector investment and greater choice for consumers but has not produced better transport systems. Instead, urban mobility has deteriorated owing to the overabundance of modes.
Source: BCG, Solving the Mobility Challenge in Megacities Report
Some new mobility trends and automotive technologies, especially leading-edge electric-vehicle (EV) batteries, frequently make the headlines. Others are emerging more quietly but could have an equally significant effect on future mobility, although some may not exert their full impact for several years.
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Passenger vehicles in Europe and North America will have an increased amount of level-three and level-four automation features, which will make them highly automated or capable of self-driving on highways by 2025. Major urban areas, such as Beijing, London, and New York, could become top markets for shared autonomous vehicles, given the large pool of potential customers in these locations.
The global micromobility market is worth about $180 billion today. McKinsey analysis shows that the value could more than double by 2030 to reach about $440 billion.
Intermodal journeys involve more than one type of transportation. Platforms that integrate all possible mobility combinations for a particular route are already starting to emerge, allowing travelers to plan their journeys more easily. Jelbi, for instance, shows possible routes involving various mobility modes, as well as their time and cost.
Shared mobility (including ride hailing) is on the rise, as consumers look for transportation options that are convenient, cost-effective, and sustainable. This segment could generate up to $1 trillion in revenues by 2030.
Source: McKinsey, The future of mobility report
The McKinsey Center for Future Mobility conducts an annual consumer survey that looks at four major trends: autonomous driving, electrification, connectivity, and shared mobility. Many respondents to the 2022 survey say they are open to shifting their transportation habits. Consider a few findings:
In 2020, the transportation sector accounted for about 20 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions, with more than 40 percent of the total coming from private cars. To promote greener transport, over 150 cities have implemented measures to curb private-vehicle use, which include efforts to increase awareness about emissions from private cars, limit the number of private cars in cities, or provide financial incentives to use more environmentally friendly mobility modes.
Source: McKinsey, The future of mobility report
Innovation managers should prioritize collaboration and a customer-centric approach to drive success in the future of transportation and mobility.
Innovation managers must embrace adaptability and forward thinking like the hey points below to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving transportation and mobility landscape.
As the future of transportation and mobility unfolds, innovation managers play a crucial role in driving transformative change. By embracing transformative technologies, fostering collaboration and customer-centricity, and emphasizing adaptability and forward thinking, innovation managers can position their organizations for success in this dynamic industry. Staying informed, proactive, and receptive to emerging trends and technologies will be essential for achieving long-term competitiveness and growth.
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MAPEGY GmbH is a Berlin-based data-intelligence company that collects and disseminates innovation trends and insights to decision-makers in the business, academic, and non-profit sectors. The company was established in 2012, and since then, it has created sophisticated technology that gives users access to billions of historical and current data points from all industries and visualizes them for strategic decision-making. We analyze WHO is doing WHAT, with WHOM, WHERE, WHEN and HOW. Our AI connects all innovation ecosystems and measures change and growth in real-time.
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