Sustainable urban mobility market - Italy

1.1 Introduction

Sustainable urban mobility refers to the provision of transportation solutions that aim to reduce environmental impact, improve energy efficiency and promote low-carbon modes of transport in urban areas.

The market for sustainable urban mobility in Italy encompasses a wide range of offerings and products, including environmentally friendly public transport (such as environmentally friendly buses and streetcars), electric vehicles (cars, scooters, bicycles), bike-sharing and car-sharing services, electric charging infrastructure, development of bicycle and pedestrian path networks, promotion of carpooling practices, and innovative transport models based on sharing.

In Italy, the regulation of sustainable mobility began in 1998 with the approval of the Interministerial Decree "Sustainable Mobility in Urban Areas."[Tuttogreen] Italy is first for premature deaths from carbon dioxide, more than 10 thousand, while it is second behind Germany for deaths due to high nitrogen concentrations, about 3 thousand deaths a year, and PM10 particulate matter, more than 52 thousand deaths. The main problems are low efficiency of public transport, an old and polluting car fleet, low use of shared mobility, and extensive use of private cars. According to the OSMM, the most virtuous cities for sustainable mobility are Milan, Florence and Bologna, while metropolises such as Messina, Naples and Palermo are further behind in the development of green solutions.[Quixa]

In 2021, Italy set a new record with 137,000 new electric cars registered, a 128 percent increase over 2020 and almost triple the number in 2019. However, in the first six months of 2022, there was a setback. As for vehicles other than cars, Italy saw a significant increase in electrification of light-duty vehicles (LDVs) with a 237 percent growth over 2020, surpassing Europe's +78 percent. Electric buses also saw 89% growth, while e-bikes saw a modest 5% increase. Other sustainable mobility sectors are also seen growing.

This study will discuss the sustainable urban mobility market at a general level; for a detailed analysis of individual sectors belonging to sustainable mobility, please refer to the specific studies available in the Businesscoot catalog.