The mobility sector has had a rough ride lately. After a few years of wild investments and even wilder ideas, we hit a wall. Call it the “speculative hangover”—too much hype, not enough follow-through, so when the macro environment changed, the money dried up.

But here’s the thing; that’s the past. If 2024 was about regrouping and recovering, 2025 is about dusting ourselves off and getting back in the driver’s seat.

 

The stars are aligning

Let’s start with the obvious: mobility isn’t going anywhere.

People still need to get from Point A to Point B, and the demand for smarter, greener, and more efficient ways to do that is only growing. Cities are doubling down on EV (electric vehicle) charging infrastructure, governments are still dolling out tax incentives, and the climate crisis is more real than ever.

The question isn’t if the mobility sector will bounce back—it’s when. And the answer is now.

What’s different this time around is how smarter investments are reshaping the landscape. Instead of chasing moonshots that sound cool but fall apart in the real world (remember all those flashy EV startups that never made it to production?), the focus is shifting to practical solutions that solve real problems. Now that valuations have come back down to earth, smart founders can get back to work without needless distractions.

 

Investments that matter

All the while, MobilityVC has been investing in companies that we think will have real impacts on the mobility, automotive, and transport landscapes.

Take ChargeEuropa, for example. The company is driving forward the EV revolution in central/eastern Europe and southeast Asia, making charging accessible and affordable thanks to an ad-supported network.

Then there’s Flowfox, which is improving global shipping by harmonizing container import automation and ocean carrier standardization.

Meanwhile, AVs (autonomous vehicles) are finally real; ask anyone who’s traveled in a Waymo.

DeepScenario is applying the AI (artificial intelligence) revolution to autonomous vehicles, dramatically speeding up training while improving safety.

Still, others like Truckoo are rapidly digitizing Europe’s fragmented trucking landscape.

 

Tech meets timing

The timing couldn’t be better. After a couple of years of rising interest rates and nervous investors clutching their wallets, the capital markets are starting to loosen up.

We’ve seen it from our limited partners; investors are cautiously optimistic, and they’re putting their money into things that work. That’s great news for companies in the mobility sector that are delivering results.

Meanwhile, tech has caught up to the hype. Autonomous driving is no longer a science fiction dream, battery technology has made EVs more practical than ever, and AI is changing the game in traffic management and fleet optimization.

The pieces of the puzzle are finally coming together.

 

The green wave is real

Let’s not forget the elephant in the room: climate change.

Governments around the world are throwing their weight behind policies to cut emissions, and transportation is a huge part of that. EV incentives, urban congestion charges, and investments in bike lanes and public transit—are all pushing us toward a more sustainable future.

And even on days when the political winds blow in confusing directions, that makes it all the more pivotal for private capital to turbocharge the push for a better tomorrow.

 

Get ready for a brighter future

2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year.

The speculative boom-and-bust cycle of the past few years taught the mobility sector some hard lessons, but that education is paying off. Investors are smarter, the technology is stronger, and the demand is undeniable.

MobilityVC’s recent investments show what the future could look like less hype and more substance. Our industry is laying the groundwork for a mobility ecosystem that works better for everyone, whether fleet operators, commuters, or the planet.

So, here’s the takeaway: don’t count mobility out.

If 2024 was the year of regrouping, 2025 is the year we start moving forward—fast. And if the current wave of smart investments is anything to go by, it will be one hell of a ride.

 

Sam Baker, who wrote this article for Futurride, is the Founder and Managing Partner of MobilityVC, a trusted investor and advisor to teams at the forefront of the mobility revolution. He previously co-founded Wunder Mobility, helping cities and companies around the globe to plan, develop, and deploy safer, more efficient transport solutions faster than before.