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] 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
• [New] Smart mobility be applied in cities which will lead to better health and fewer fatalities on the roads. The Star
• [New] While major metropolises like Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary defined the busiest hubs of 2025, new data from global travel platform Busbud reveals a shift toward mid-sized Ontario cities for early 2026 travel planning. Yahoo Finance Canada
• [New] Rallies and demonstrations are expected in main Italian cities in connection with protests against the latest budget law, which may impact traffic conditions. Heavy Lift & Project Forwarding International
• [New] Synopsis: Satellite cities in India are rapidly emerging as powerful economic and real estate hubs, complementing their metros by offering affordable living, strong connectivity, and abundant development potential. Trade Brains Money
• [New] By 2050 the number of megacities will grow to 37, with Dhaka becoming the world's most populous city, at an estimated 51.1 million residents. Federal Statistical Office
• [New] Atlantic City could experience up to 178 flood days annually by 2050. Yahoo News
• [New] Cities adopting MaaS could see a 20% reduction in transportation-related carbon emissions by 2030, thereby improving air quality. Avenga
• [New] By 2050, rising sea levels will threaten over 800 billion people in 570 cities around the world, and rising average summer temperatures of over 95 F (35 C) will threaten 1.2 billion people. The Dirt
• [New] Cities could benefit enormously from AI-enabled, real-time Air Quality Decision Support Systems (AQ-DSS) that integrate industrial, vehicular, agricultural, biomass, meteorological and satellite data to enable predictive governance rather than reactive firefighting. Hindustan Times

Last updated: 20 December 2025