The Smart Mobility Summit of Cities and Regions took place once again during the opening day of the 17th ITS European Congress in Istanbul, bringing together Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Councillors, and Heads of Transport from 33 cities and regions across Europe. They were joined by National and European policymakers to discuss the ‘ITS agenda for liveable, resilient and prosperous urban nodes’.
As part of the EU’s broader climate and smart mobility agenda, the TEN-T regulations have strengthened the role of cities as vital enablers of sustainable, efficient, and multimodal transport. In the EU, the 431 cities designated as urban nodes have specific requirements to promote seamless traffic flows. The underlying challenges and ambitions are shared well beyond EU borders, including in the Congress host country, Türkiye, where major international transport corridors intersect, and cities play a critical role in connecting regional and global mobility networks.
With cities and regions positioned as orchestrators of complex mobility ecosystems, the focus of the Summit was on automation, electrification, multimodal hubs and societal aspects. Each of these topics was discussed in simultaneous roundtable discussions among peers in a close, ‘upon-invitation-only’ session. The central question discussed was: how can cities translate ambitious mobility goals into implementable, scalable systems?
From technology to system transformation
The Summit reinforced the view that the mobility transition is much more than a technological problem to address. Cities across Europe are largely aligned on transport and mobility goals: cleaner fleets, smarter traffic management, and more efficient multimodal systems. The real challenge, however, lies in delivery.
The discussions repeatedly pointed to institutional fragmentation, regulatory complexity, and limited financial readiness as the main barriers. In the host city of Istanbul, for example, the deployment of charging infrastructure was shown to be constrained not by technology but by overlapping responsibilities related to land use, grid connections, safety regulations, and permitting processes. Even well-prepared projects can stall if these elements are not aligned.
The current broader thinking is that electrification, automation, digitalisation and social inclusion must be embedded within integrated urban systems that connect mobility, energy, and digital infrastructure. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) play a central role in this systemic perspective by enabling real-time traffic management, data-driven planning, and improved coordination across modes and stakeholders.
Building investable systems beyond electric fleets
The roundtable discussion on Beyond fleet electrification: Powering investable Urban Mobility systems highlighted that electrification is about more than vehicle replacement and requires a system-wide transformation. Experiences shared illustrated the diversity of challenges depending on local context.
For instance, Izmir’s deployment of electric buses demonstrates that success depends on operational redesign, route planning, charging strategies, and energy management, rather than procurement alone. Meanwhile, Muğla’s tourism-driven mobility patterns reveal the complexity of installing even a limited number of charging stations in geographically dispersed areas with seasonal demand peaks.
A recurring theme was the shift from mobility planning to energy-mobility integration. Charging infrastructure, depot design, and grid capacity must be planned together, or cities risk simply replacing one bottleneck (fuel supply) with another (electricity access). At the same time, participants highlighted the lack of mature financing models capable of supporting such integrated systems. Traditional public procurement approaches remain focused on individual assets, while innovative models, such as charging-as-a-service or energy performance contracts, are still underexplored.
Aligning CCAM innovation with urban reality
Another roundtable topic was Cities’ readiness for deploying Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM), which explored the preparedness of cities to integrate automation into real-world environments. While technological progress is advancing rapidly, deployment in European cities faces unique challenges.
Unlike the grid-based layouts of some U.S. cities, European urban environments are often dense, historic, and highly complex. This creates additional hurdles for automated vehicles, particularly in mixed traffic conditions. Participants identified gaps in communication infrastructure, such as the deployment of 5G connectivity, and the need for stronger standardisation and interoperability frameworks.
Beyond infrastructure, societal factors also emerged as critical. Public acceptance, trust in automated systems, and cultural attachment to private car ownership all influence the pace of adoption. At the same time, economic considerations, including the cost of infrastructure and the implications of reducing driver-based jobs, require careful management.
Despite these challenges, the discussion identified clear opportunities. CCAM applications, such as first and last-mile connections, on-demand services in low-density areas, and automated logistics, were seen as offering tangible benefits. Cities are increasingly looking at how these solutions can complement public transport networks rather than compete with them, ensuring that automation supports broader sustainability goals.
Integration of multimodal hubs in practice
The roundtable discussion, looking to the Evolution of multimodal hubs by 2030, highlighted their role as anchors of integrated mobility systems. Examples from cities such as Stuttgart, Belfast, Patras, and Katowice illustrate both progress and persistent challenges.
One of the key issues discussed was the mismatch between infrastructure planning and actual mobility needs. In some cases, hubs have been developed where space is available rather than where demand is highest, leading to underutilisation. This reinforces the importance of data-driven planning, using insights on travel patterns and traffic flows to guide investment decisions.
Governance and cooperation were also identified as major barriers. Multimodal hubs require coordination between multiple stakeholders – public authorities, private operators, and different levels of government. However, cities often lack the regulatory tools or leverage to align these actors effectively. Emerging governance models, such as regional transport authorities in the UK or data standardisation efforts in the Netherlands, were highlighted as promising approaches.
Funding remains a persistent challenge. While multimodal hubs are recognised as critical for the performance of wider transport networks, financial support at both European and national levels is not always aligned with policy ambitions. This creates a gap that must be addressed through new funding mechanisms and stronger public-private collaboration.
Towards human-centric mobility systems
The concept of a just transition emerged as a guiding principle in the roundtable on the social dimension of mobility. Cities are increasingly aware that the benefits of smart mobility must be anchored in principles of fairness, inclusiveness, and accessibility. Mobility needs differ significantly depending on age, gender, income, disability, and location, requiring a shift from a “one-size-fits-all” approach towards more tailored and user-centric planning.
A key insight is that inclusive mobility starts with inclusive processes. Cities are experimenting with more participatory planning approaches, from large-scale citizen surveys informing mobility services, e.g. in Tallinn, where a significant share of the population has been engaged in shaping MaaS solutions, to more immersive formats such as “walkshops” in cities like Kifissia, where planners and residents explore urban spaces together. These approaches help ensure that lived experience informs decision-making and that policies reflect real needs rather than assumptions.
Digitalisation is reshaping how inclusion is addressed. Tools like digital twins and digital wallets offer new opportunities to personalise and optimise mobility services, but they also risk excluding those with limited digital access or skills if not designed carefully. To ensure digital mobility solutions remain accessible, Oxfordshire, for instance, is concentrating efforts to collect more inclusive, intersectional feedback, particularly from younger and more vulnerable groups.
Cities appreciate the need to align social and environmental objectives and are actively working towards this integration. This shift in approach is reflected in multiple ways, whether it is Rzeszów rebalancing its transport system towards public transport, or Konya expanding cycling infrastructure. For sustainable mobility benefits to be shared more equitably, connectivity must improve in city centres and also in peripheral areas, and disproportionate impacts on vulnerable groups in terms of cost or accessibility must be avoided.
Converging lessons and call for action
Across the different roundtables, several common conclusions stand out:
The transition to smart mobility is inherently systemic. Electrification, automation, and multimodal integration cannot succeed as standalone initiatives. They require coordinated planning across mobility, energy, and digital domains.
Data is a foundational enabler. Whether in optimising electric bus routes, planning multimodal hubs, managing automated mobility services, or provisioning accessible and inclusive mobility options, data-driven decision-making is essential for both operational efficiency and investment readiness.
Governance and institutional capacity are critical. Fragmentation across authorities, sectors, and stakeholders remains one of the biggest obstacles to implementation. Stronger coordination mechanisms and clearer allocation of responsibilities are needed at both local and regional levels.
New financing and delivery models are essential. Cities must move beyond asset-based procurement towards performance-based, system-oriented approaches that can attract private investment and support long-term sustainability.
Social inclusiveness must be embedded throughout the transition. Mobility systems should be designed with diverse user needs in mind, ensuring equitable access, affordability, and participation, while aligning digital and green transitions with the principles of a just transition.
The future of urban mobility depends on the ability to integrate, finance, and govern the emerging innovations effectively. Cities are ready to move forward, but unlocking this transition will require a step change in how mobility systems are planned, delivered, and funded.