Moving away from silo thinking: Mobility as an ecosystem
The Zeit Conference New Mobility highlighted a crucial shift: the focus is no longer on individual modes of transport but on a connected system. Or as Raphael Gielgen put it: We must “leave the whole kitchen” and think outside the box. Every mode of transport – be it cars, bicycles or public transport – has its role. However, for us as mobility and software providers is to intelligently integrate these building blocks to create efficient and sustainable mobility for all.
“The mobility transition is the best thing that can happen to motorists.”
Dr. Anjes Tjarks, Senator of the Hamburg Ministry of Transport and Mobility Transition
Data as a driver of mobility
To enable efficient and sustainable mobility, data-based services are essential. However, data only unfolds its full potential when shared with other stakeholders. This is not yet taking place sufficiently. We need to find a new data sharing culture so that everyone can benefit from it. Open systems and standards are the key to making mobility services more attractive and, above all, affordable. This applies to long-distance bus providers like Flixbus as well as to bike sharing companies or to us in public transport ride-pooling.
Autonomous driving in public transport as a focus topic
One focus topic last week was the integration of autonomous driving into public transport. At the beginning of the week, around 50 stakeholders from politics, industry, public transport, science and associations discussed cooperation at the IAA MOBILITY Roundtable 2025 “Model Regions for Autonomous Driving”.
For those curious about the current state of autonomous driving in public transport, the open space of Zukunft Nahverkehr featured two autonomous projects with us as tech-partner. A KIRA vehicle was exhibited there. KIRA stands for AI-based regular operation of autonomous on-demand transport and is currently being piloted with our on-demand software in Darmstadt and the district of Offenbach as a supplement to public transport. Just a few meters away, visitors were able exchange with the MINGA project. As part of MINGA, an on-demand ridepooling service is to be created in the Munich metropolitan area , for which we are supplying the platform.
As Anjes Tjarks aptly remarked at the Zeit New Mobility Conference: “The mobility turnaround is the best thing that can happen to motorists,” as it makes traffic more efficient. Autonomous ride-pooling offers a viable solution, especially in rural areas, to address the shortage of drivers and make public transport more economical.
What remains of the Mobility Week?
The discussions in Munich last week have once again shown that the future of mobility is a joint effort. We must:
- Changing the perspective: Move away from the silo mentality towards networking.
- Be courageous: Don’t just talk about feasibility, take action and experiment.
- Prioritise people: Technology is just a tool. Success is measured by how it makes people’s lives easier and more sustainable.
With our digital solutions for public transport, we provide important building blocks for this connected, liveable and sustainable mobility. We must step outside the kitchen of public transport and ask ourselves how we can reshape mobility as an integral part of social life. This requires courage, clear political objectives and the willingness of public and private partners to work together. We are ready to walk this path together with our partners. Perhaps next year, a public transport ticket will once again be included with the IAA trade fair ticket, transforming the car show into a true mobility fair. “It’s All About Mobility.”
