Global Scans · Cities · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Smart cities are the talk of the town right now and so they should be to cope when over 60% of us will live in cities by 2030. E-bikes, Driverless- connected vehicles, buildings that talk to each other will help but many cities are susceptible to climate change and pandemics. Explore the issues faced by cities and the new ideas that will change the way urban dwellers live in the 21st century.

• [New] Cities like Berlin and Munich are expected to implement pilot projects that include air taxis as part of smart city transportation. Precedence Research
• [New] A Presidential Executive Order has directed the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration to allow mature eVTOL aircraft to begin operations in select cities as early as 2026, even before full certification is completed. Carbon Credits
• [New] Within the next 3-5 years, urban air taxis will operate commercially in multiple cities worldwide. Veritas Electronics Kenya
• [New] The investment bank anticipates a major robotaxi breakout in the U.S., projecting that approximately 33 cities could launch commercial autonomous services in 2026. FinancialContent
• [New] The projects launching and completing over 2026 will demonstrate whether smart city technologies can deliver on their promises of improved efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life. / USA CCE l ONLINE NEWS
• [New] Denver's smart city evolution centers on Pena Station NEXT, a transit-oriented, mixed-use development expected to be completed in 2026. CCE l ONLINE NEWS
• [New] As China scales low-altitude economic infrastructure across thousands of cities and rural areas, the operational model of centralized tracking and control will be exported alongside Chinese-manufactured drones and eVTOLs. Low Altitude Economy
• [New] Cities with heavy traffic and long travel times, such as Los Angeles, New York, or San Francisco, will soon see air taxis provide an efficient and time-saving alternative to ground transportation. Travel And Tour World
• [New] Expanding next-generation connectivity and ICT infrastructure (projected to reach AED 192 billion in 2025) creates significant opportunities in smart cities, utilities, logistics, real-time monitoring, and IoT-based service platforms. LOGIC Consulting - A Leading MENA Consulting Firm
• [New] There will be one million Robotaxis on the road across multiple cities, a major jump and a considerable fleet size. TESLARATI
• [New] By the end of 2035, Morgan Stanley expects Tesla to have 1 mn robotaxis on the road across multiple cities. Yahoo Finance UK
• [New] By the end of 2035, we expect Tesla to have 1 million Robotaxis on the road across multiple cities. EV
• [New] Smart city investment in North America is projected to reach $750 billion by 2026, up from $3 trillion in 2017. CCE l ONLINE NEWS
• [New] As 2026 approaches, American cities are at an inflection point. CCE l ONLINE NEWS
• [New] As 2026 approaches, American cities are undergoing unprecedented digital transformations that promise to reshape urban living. CCE l ONLINE NEWS
• [New] From 2029 to 2035, at least five cities and 10 provinces will operate integrated smart transport operation centers. Vietnam Economic Times
• [New] The autonomous air taxi sector is nearing a pivotal moment, with 2026 set to witness the commercial launch of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) services in major cities worldwide. eplaneai
• [New] Vertical Aerospace unveiled Valo, a six-seat electric aircraft targeting fast, zero-emission airport-to-city routes by 2028. oilprice.com
• [New] Vertical Aerospace hopes its Valo aircraft, which has a capacity for up to six passengers, can get regulatory approval in three years - with the first planned commercial routes to include airport-to-city center connections. RTE
• [New] Waymo, Alphabet Inc.'s self-driving tech unit, expects to more than quadruple its ride service over 2026, aiming to handle at least a million paid robotaxi rides as it enters new cities in the U.S. and begins operating in the U.K. and Japan. Forbes
• [New] Alphabet's fast-growing autonomous ride company expects to expand to over 20 cities, including London and Tokyo, by the end of 2026, up from its current six. Forbes
• [New] Brazil is expected to record 120 million 5G connections as coverage expands across major cities and digital services adoption increases. Electro IQ
• [New] Climate imperatives, rapid urbanization, technological disruption, and changing passenger expectations are reshaping mobility worldwide. UIC Communications

Last updated: 27 December 2025