Taxi as a key enabler of the future urban mobility ecosystem
On 20 February 2026, CARNET participated in the Mobility Forum “El taxi, pieza clave para la movilidad urbana”, held in Barcelona and organised by elTaxi033 and FEDETAXI. The event brought together representatives from public administrations, technology companies, industry, mobility platforms and the taxi sector to reflect on the evolving role of taxis within today’s and tomorrow’s cities.
Dr. Laia Pagès, Scientific Director of CARNET, took part in the roundtable discussion “The technological contribution of taxi to the city of the future”, focusing on its impact on citizens, tourism and sustainable urban mobility. The debate highlighted the taxi not only as a traditional transport service, but as a flexible, technology-enabled component of the urban mobility system, capable of complementing public transport and adapting dynamically to demand.
From CARNET’s perspective, one of the key challenges discussed was how to better integrate taxis into data-driven mobility management frameworks. Taxis generate valuable real-time information on demand patterns, congestion, service gaps and user behaviour, insights that can significantly improve urban transport planning when properly integrated with other data sources. Their strategic position between public transport and on-demand mobility services makes them particularly relevant for multimodal coordination and first/last-mile connectivity, especially for tourists and occasional users who rely on accessible and reliable services.
This vision is closely aligned with the objectives of i-MovE (Interoperability for Efficient, Safe and Equitable Mobility), a project in which CARNET is actively involved. i-MovE develops an interoperable mobility data space designed to integrate heterogeneous data sources including taxi operations, public transport systems and traffic information, under shared governance frameworks. By ensuring data quality, standardisation and traceability, the project enables both public authorities and operators to design evidence-based strategies, optimise services and assess policy impacts with greater precision.
During the discussion, particular attention was given to the role of taxis in the transition towards cleaner vehicle fleets and charging infrastructure deployment. Electrification strategies, smart demand management and collaboration between the public sector, industry and operators were identified as essential steps to position taxis as active contributors to decarbonisation goals while maintaining service reliability and economic viability.
The forum reinforced a key message: the taxi sector, when digitally integrated and supported by interoperable data ecosystems such as i-MovE, can act as a critical pillar of urban mobility resilience. By combining technological innovation, operational flexibility and institutional collaboration, taxis can enhance accessibility for citizens and visitors alike, while contributing to a more efficient, transparent and sustainable mobility system.
