Challenges of urbanization
What do you see as the biggest "pain points" in terms of urban individual transport?
Sophie Stigliano: The classic and quite obvious correct answer would be terms like congestion, emissions or lack of space. Worldwide, cities are taking massive and often radical action against individual transport and thus set new framework conditions, which are based on environmental and economic objectives, but also on the needs of citizens. The latter, in turn, like to be mobile. In this respect, "pain points" for me are precisely also the negotiation of an overall system that rethinks individual transport, that includes future technologies and makes use of their advantages.
What are the most important fields of action when it comes to the future of our urban mobility?
Sophie Stigliano: We coordinate with GESI the Urban Mobility Platform, which was jointly launched by German cities and representatives of the automotive industry. The goal of this partnership is to work shoulder-to-shoulder to discuss solutions for urban mobility while addressing the needs of city dwellers. Appropriate action has been taken in five crucial areas:
- Multimodality / Intermodality: in order to be able to make attractive offers, we must link different modes of transport efficiently and sustainably.
- Traffic management and land use: the "urban footprint" currently occupied by traffic must be reduced in order to free up space for other uses. This includes both the management of parking space and the control of traffic flow.
- Digital platforms and interfaces. For mobility and logistics to be thought of and developed holistically, we need common digital platforms that coordinate and mediate between urban goals and private offers.
- Framework conditions: It is extremely important that framework conditions are created that, on the one hand, enable the implementation of mobility solutions and, on the other hand, create an environment for investments by third parties.
- Future dialogue: For me, a central point, because here it is a matter of new mobility concepts having a very concrete positive impact on our quality of life. The mobility turnaround and the necessary change in behavior will only be possible if citizens are informed transparently and future solutions are made tangible.
Mobility of the future
In your view, where do major hurdles still lie and how could they be removed?
Sophie Stigliano: One of the biggest challenges lies in the cooperative way of working. Cross-sector projects between industries, research and municipalities are a prerequisite for networked mobility. Often, the first step here is to overcome hurdles within corporate hierarchies and specialist departments. The same is generally true for municipalities, where, for example, a cross-sectional function between administrative departments is often lacking.
How do people in cities want to be mobile in the future? What is the importance of owning your own vehicle?
Sophie Stigliano: The standard answer is that for the next generation, the relationship to ownership will have changed. This is absolutely true and is currently driving the debate regarding the mobility services that will need to be offered in the future. Topics such as car sharing and ride-hailing are important here. I think that in the long term, we in urban centers will share our mobility and the services that lie within it. The only question is what the design will be. There will have to be a variety of offers depending on need, divided according to different criteria and expectations. People want to be independent when it comes to getting around. That's why having your own car was such a great revolution. It's always available when I want to cover distances quickly. If a service offering can provide that, then the desire to own a vehicle will certainly quickly decrease even further. In my opinion, on-demand systems, i.e. mobility on demand, are a step in the right direction, but one that does not disruptively plant itself on a city like Uber and actually increase the burden on the overall system, but rather pays off as a cooperative solution between the city and the provider in terms of urban goals.
What role do you see the automotive industry playing in the mobility of the future?
Sophie Stigliano: A key learning for the automotive industry will be to move away from the dominance of a horsepower-driven sales model. It's no longer about owning or not owning a car, it's about how people can customize their mobility to the second via digitized services. And either my product has to fit into this "bouquet" or I have to offer a service that ties it together - a shift in thinking toward becoming a service provider. The automotive industry is currently being given a unique opportunity to reposition itself by directing its developments - such as piloted parking or automated driving - not with a focus on the individual user, but on a collective, and thus making a positive contribution to the use of urban space or emission reduction.
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