New business models and partnerships for sustainable mobility and transport sector

Urban mobility is crucial to European societies in providing access to services for passengers and goods and supporting economic growth. Small and Medium (S-M) European cities are facing similar challenges to larger cities, such as congestion and pollution, and perceive similar trends, such as digitalization, the sharing economy, integrated mobility. To improve urban mobility and the related societal challenges, it requires a wide range of complementary mobility solutions and services adopting innovative user-centric, smart, multimodal, and intermodal approaches. Solving the mobility challenge requires coordinated actions from the private and public sectors. Technological advances and commercialization, funding, intelligent policies, and business model innovation are needed to improve urban mobility and create more sustainable environments in modern cities. The capacity to develop or reshape business models requires organizational know-how and tools. New business strategies enable transportation and mobility organizations to receive investments, whilst well-chosen partners will reinforce the chance of success. This chapter outlines the main results of SUITS’ research into developing business models and partnerships. It provides knowledge about innovative business models in urban mobility; addresses existing and new partnership schemes; identifies evolving commercially viable business strategies; introduces the main findings of the research and recommendations.