I am sharing with you the MIT Mobility Initiative Annual Report 2025.
Global mobility in 2025 is being radically shaped by disruption and divergence.
1. Trade disputes and tariffs are redrawing supply chains, forcing companies to localize production and diversify sourcing
2. China is consolidating its lead in EVs, fueling global overcapacity.
3. Robotaxis are running at public scale in major cities, while autonomous trucking is beginning cross-corridor operations.
4. In the U.S., EV adoption has slowed due to the repeal of key federal incentives and a landscape of inconsistent policies
Urban mobility faces equally sharp shifts.
1. Public transit confronts a fiscal cliff as federal aid expires, ridership lags, and costs rise—yet agencies must still modernize fleets, address workforce shortages, and meet climate and equity goals.
2. New York City’s congestion pricing—long resisted politically—has now overcome hurdles and is delivering measurable traffic reductions, standing as a landmark success in urban policy.
Finally, a growing divergence in clean energy policies—particularly the U.S. lagging behind Europe and China—threatens to increase costs, emissions, and competitiveness risks.
Against this backdrop of volatility, the MIT Mobility Initiative has worked to provide scientific research, rigorous insight, and convening power to help navigate these shifts.
In 2025 we:
1. Expanded our research portfolio on vehicle performance and safety, AV energy demands, and the economic value of public transit.
2. Launched the MMI Automotive Strategy & Technology (MAST) Consortium, with its first report on Software Defined Vehicles.
3. Advanced research on AI in Mobility and the Carbon Footprint of Commuting.
4. Hosted the 4th MIT Mobility Vision Day at the U.S. DOT Volpe Center, with 130 leaders from industry, government, and academia.
5. Delivered the 150th MIT Mobility Forum, reaching 18,000+ subscribers worldwide.
6. Welcomed the 2nd cohort of MMI Senior Fellows—Adam Grosser, Kara Kockelman, Stephanie Pollack, Jamey Tesler, and David Zipper.
7. Launched new programs, from executive education for NHTSA to a new Bay Area leadership convening: Friends of Mobility.
💡 Looking ahead: MMI will continue to grow as a global platform for safe, clean, and inclusive mobility. We invite you to engage with us—join our weekly Mobility Forum (kicking off Friday, Sept 12, 2025), explore our research, or share your perspectives.