🚋 Mobility Futures #22

Happy Monday 👋

China is now the world's largest car exporter, with its domestic market rivaling the combined size of the US and Europe. IATA forecasts a landmark year for aviation in 2025, projecting over $1 trillion in global revenue and more than 5 billion passengers. Intramotev deployed the first independently driven electric railcar in Michigan, cutting 55,000 gallons of diesel use and 617 tons of CO2 emissions annually. The Asia-Pacific region sees growing opportunities for CO2 shipping, with projected cross-border CCUS volumes reaching 100 million tonnes annually by 2050. Meanwhile, CarDekho SEA secured $60M to expand its automotive services in Southeast Asia, fueling regional growth. 

What's new?

HolonIQ’s new Green Skills Map and Workforce section reveal industry-wide sustainability skills and jobs, as well as workforce development initiatives, supporting upskilling for a sustainable economy.

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🚘 Ground Mobility

🚗 China Becomes the World's Largest Car Exporter. China surpassed other countries to become the world's largest exporter of cars. Its domestic car market is now the largest globally, nearly as big as the US and European markets combined.

🚌 Mumbai to Deploy 8,000 Electric Buses by 2027. Mumbai, India's financial capital, is intensifying efforts to make public transport eco-friendly by planning to deploy 8,000 electric buses by 2027 to tackle escalating air pollution.

🚗 Chinese automaker BYD to begin European production in 2025. The Chinese car manufacturer BYD plans to start production in Europe next year in the compact car segment, according to BYD's Head of Europe Stella Li.

🛬 Aviation

✈️ IATA Forecasts Landmark Year for Airline Industry in 2025. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts that the global aviation industry revenue could pass $1 trillion in 2025 with passenger numbers potentially exceeding 5 billion.

✈️ Archer Aviation Commercializes Air Taxis in Abu Dhabi. Archer Aviation partnered with UAE entities to launch electric air taxi operations, becoming the first eVTOL operator and manufacturer in MENA. Key collaborators include the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Falcon Aviation Services, and Abu Dhabi Airports, focusing on creating a strong eVTOL ecosystem.

🚁 Joby Aviation Advances eVTOL Plans with $300M Offering and Jetex Partnership. Joby Aviation announced a public offering to raise $30M, supporting its preparations for the planned 2025 commercial release of its eVTOL vehicles. Additionally, Joby partnered with Jetex to develop infrastructure services for eVTOL operations, bolstering its vision for seamless urban air mobility.

🚋 Rail

🚆 Intramotev deploys first independently driven electric railcar. Intramotev, a zero-emissions freight mobility solutions specialist, deployed its first independently driven electric railcar in the US. The Michigan deployment aims to save 55,000 gallons of diesel and reduce CO2 emissions by 617 tons annually.

🚆 World Bank Finances Railway Upgrade in Türkiye. The World Bank approved a $600M loan to upgrade the Divriği —Kars railway in Türkiye, part of the Middle Corridor. The upgrade aims to boost economies, create jobs, and reduce Turkey's reliance on road freight, which accounts for 50% of transport-related emissions.

🚆 First Hydrogen Train on Spanish and Portuguese Lines. The FCH2RAIL demonstrator train was successfully tested on 6 commercial lines in Spain and Portugal, achieving over 800 km of autonomy. This test is part of efforts to explore hydrogen as a replacement for diesel on non-electrified railway lines, with more testing planned across Spain.

🚢 Marine

🌍 APAC Presents Opportunities for CO2 Shipping. Shipping is expected to play a crucial role in cross-border CCUS initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region, with projected annual CO2 shipping volumes reaching 100 million tonnes by 2050.

⚓️ Maersk Halifax's Engine Retrofit to Dual-Fuel Unit. MAN Energy Solutions announced the successful retrofit of the main engine of the Maersk Halifax container vessel to a dual-fuel unit, the first such project globally involving a Very Large Container Vessel (VLCV).

⚡️ MAN Energy Solutions Retrofits Container Ship for Methanol Fuel. MAN Energy Solutions successfully retrofitted the engine of the container vessel 'Maersk Halifax' to run on methanol fuel. This retrofit enables the vessel to run on green methanol, reducing its CO2 emissions by 90%.

🛠️ Skills and Workforce

HolonIQ is now tracking reskilling and upskilling initiatives critical in bridging workforce gaps. Impact industries are rapidly evolving, fueled by technological advancements, decarbonization, geopolitical dynamics, and socio-economic factors. To that extent, these sectors require considerable workforce/professional development initiatives to enhance workers' capabilities, boost economic growth, and promote social well-being. Read on for this week’s insights, and discover more in HolonIQ's latest Skills newsletter.

🔋 EIT Battery Academy trains 100,000 learners for green workforce transformation. EIT’s European Battery Alliance Academy has trained 100,000 learners, equipping Europe’s workforce with essential skills for the green transition. Offering tailored technical and foundational courses in 10 languages, the Academy has reached learners across Germany, France, Spain, Poland, and Romania. This milestone underscores EIT’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, setting the stage for future Net-Zero Industry Academies and expanding workforce services to include hiring, onboarding, and retention.

🌞 UHI Inverness opens a hub for green heating skills training. UHI Inverness has launched the Renewable Energy Training Hub, offering hands-on training with advanced air source heat pump technologies. Supported by industry leaders like Panasonic, Samsung, and Grant UK, the hub addresses Scotland’s green skills shortage and promotes sustainable heating solutions. Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the hub equips apprentices and professionals to decarbonize heating systems, future-proof homes, and transition from fossil fuels to sustainable technologies, advancing regional climate goals.

🏤 South West College secures €9.8M for green skills training. South West College has secured €9.8M through the PEACEPLUS program to launch the Green Accelerator Skills Programme (GRASP). Focusing on green skills in the construction sector, GRASP addresses areas like NZEB tradesperson training, PassivHaus design, and environmental auditing. With key collaborations, including Women into Construction, the program aims to train 2,000 employees over four years, equipping rural Fermanagh and Tyrone’s workforce for Net Zero challenges and sustainable innovation.

HolonIQ has launched the Green Skills Map, an open-source framework initiated for cataloging, evaluating, and contextualizing the different components of the rapidly expanding field of green jobs. This comprehensive taxonomy will serve as a resource for understanding the full spectrum and complexity of green skills required across various sectors, thereby enabling a cohesive approach toward achieving net zero and decarbonizing the global economy. Green Skills Map spans 11 areas, 54 sub-areas, and 243 green skills clusters. A snippet of the map covering four areas has been included above. Explore the full map on greenskills.org.

💰 Deals of the Week

💰 CarDekho SEA Secures $60M for Regional Growth. CarDekho SEA, a company offering automotive services, raised $60M to expand its regional operations.

🚃 Estonian Rail Operator Operail Sold for $20M. Operail, an Estonian rail operator was sold for $20M to AS Tiigi Keskus.

🚗 Rhino-Rack Acquires RockyMounts. Rhino-Rack, a company, acquired RockyMounts, another company, in an acquisition that deepens its product expertise in a key growth vertical.

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