Redefining Urban Mobility: Lessons from UITP Hamburg 2025

Redefining Urban Mobility: Lessons from UITP Hamburg 2025

By Kaan Yıldızgöz, Executive Director of Business Growth, Modaxo

Did you know that the very first global public transport congress of UITP – held in 1886 – focused on…horses? Delegates discussed how to optimise horse-drawn transport, even debating the most efficient feed mixtures.

That was Mobility 1.0.

Fast forward to 2025 in Hamburg, and the conversation couldn’t be more different. At this year’s UITP Global Public Transport Summit, over 10,000 participants from around the world gathered to explore Mobility 5.0—a bold new phase powered by artificial intelligence (AI), connected infrastructure, sustainable systems, and human-centered design.

This year’s Summit wasn’t just a showcase of innovation; it was a clear statement of intent. From electrification to equity, from digital platforms to governance reform, Hamburg served as a living lab for ideas that are transforming how the world moves.

Key Themes & Takeaways

• AI with Context
  At our Modaxo Networking Breakfast, digital futurist Andreas Ekström delivered a provocative keynote on “Organic Intelligence.”His message: AI’s real power lies not in automation alone, but in how it augments human decision-making, empathy, and purpose. In public transport, this means deploying AI not just for cost savings or operational efficiency, but to create safer, more inclusive, and responsive systems. The future isn’t just intelligent—it’s thoughtfully intelligent.
• Sustainability as Strategy
  Across the Summit, one message was clear – sustainability is no longer an option; it is the strategy. Cities shared real, measurable progress – from electric fleets and energy-efficient depots to zero-emission zones and circular economy practices. But sustainability wasn’t discussed only in environmental terms. Social equity, workforce inclusion, and affordability were front and centre. Delegates emphasised that climate resilience must go hand in hand with accessibility and justice.
• Integration Over Isolation
  While innovation remains essential, real transformation happens when systems are integrated – technologically, operationally, and institutionally. The most impactful initiatives on display in Hamburg weren’t isolated pilots but comprehensive efforts to connect fare systems, mobility services, infrastructure, and data platforms.

At Modaxo, we see this as a validation of our core belief: effective mobility tech must be connected, contextual, and people-first.

Mobility Redefined – CEO Roundtables at UITP Summit

As part of our Mobility Redefined podcast series, Modaxo hosted two exclusive CEO roundtables with leaders from Vienna, London, Leipzig, Helsinki, Cape Town, Lisbon, and Tirana. The discussions provided a behind-the-scenes look at how cities are navigating challenges and scaling solutions in real time.

Key themes emerged across both sessions:

• Sustainability: Vienna shared its “Freedom of Mobility” vision, while London reaffirmed its climate ambition through fleet electrification and congestion strategies. Cape Town and Tirana discussed linking transport investments to workforce development and social inclusion, while Helsinki and Leipzig focused on the electrification of fleets and reducing car dependency through on-demand services.
• Technology with Purpose: Cities, such as Lisbon and London, are leveraging AI and open data to improve operational planning and prioritization, while Vienna and Leipzig highlighted the importance of engaging employees and unions when introducing new technologies.
• Financial & Governance Innovation: From Leipzig’s regional SUMO collaboration to Tirana’s performance-based contracting, cities discussed the urgent need for resilient funding models, life-cycle cost planning, and new governance tools to adapt to evolving mobility needs.

The consensus? Innovation means little without integration. These cities are aligning policy, finance, workforce, and technology to deliver mobility systems that are sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready.

Innovation Highlights from UITP Summit 2025

The Trapeze team was proud to showcase several cutting-edge solutions during the Summit:

• AI-Powered Neural Voices
  As part of the Innovation Guided Tour, we introduced real-time AI-generated voice announcements designed to enhance customer experience while reducing operational costs.
• C-ITS Technical Visit in Hamburg
  In collaboration with the City of Hamburg and Hamburger Hochbahn, Trapeze led a technical site visit showcasing V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) communication for intelligent traffic signals. This real-world demonstration highlighted how connected vehicle infrastructure can improve efficiency and reduce emissions through smarter signal prioritization.
• INTROS – Inclusive Mobility on the Expo Stage
  During our Expo Stage session, we introduced INTROS, a digital tool that supports inclusive mobility planning. Designed to assist passengers with special needs, the tool helps transit agencies better understand and respond to diverse user requirements, ensuring that accessibility is embedded in system design from the start.

Looking Ahead

UITP Hamburg 2025 made one thing clear: The future of mobility is not about technology alone – it’s about technology with intention.

It’s about aligning innovation with public value, equity, and collaboration. As Modaxo and Trapeze continue to take the lead in this pursuit of developing technology with intention, we are proud to be part of this journey – connecting local insight with global innovation to unlock mobility’s full potential.

See you in Dubai in 2026 and back in Hamburg in 2027!