The year 2024 has been a turbulent one, marked by numerous challenges for mobility providers, political leaders, and consumers alike. Looking ahead, the situation is unlikely to improve anytime soon, especially with populist movements around the world pushing to maintain the status quo, often supported by powerful oil and gas interests aiming to preserve their dominance in the mobility sector. As we move into 2025, the path ahead remains uncertain, but there are several key trends in mobility and infrastructure development that will shape the year. These trends, primarily from a European perspective, reflect the ongoing evolution of transportation systems and the shifting dynamics within the mobility industry. Here are my five predictions for how these developments will unfold in the New Year.

When General Motors (GM) acquired the self-driving startup Cruise in 2016 for approx. $1 billion, the goal was clear: to become a leader in autonomous driving (AD) technology. Over the next several years, GM invested heavily in the company, pouring in more than $10 billion to build a fleet of self-driving robotaxis, alongside major investments from SoftBank, Microsoft, and Honda. The dream? A future where autonomous vehicles dominated the streets, and GM led the charge with its cutting-edge technology. But that dream took a hard hit in 2023.

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Fabienne Kleiner, Partner at Zurich-based 'echowerk' and the visionary behind the E-nova Mobility Experience. Despite being deeply immersed in preparations for the upcoming fair, scheduled from September 6th to 8th in the heart of Zurich, Fabienne graciously took the time to discuss the inspiration and goals behind this groundbreaking event. Now in its second year, Switzerland's first experiential fair showcases the full spectrum of sustainable mobility solutions, aiming to inspire and educate attendees about the future of transportation. Our conversation delved into the challenges and innovations shaping the mobility landscape, and how E-nova seeks to drive meaningful change in how we move through the world.

With the Olympic Games in Paris coming up at the end of July, MOTION Magazine took a deep dive into the key question for all urban centers that are brave enough to host a global event like that: What does it take for a host city or region to benefit sustainably from the Olympic Games in terms of infrastructure and from a socio-cultural viewpoint? Two games and cities - "host cities'' - will serve as examples in finding an answer to this question: Munich 1972 and Barcelona 1992. What made these games so special (and particularly sustainable), and where do great opportunities lie for Paris? Here is my attempt at an answer.