Transpotec Logitec and NME – Next Mobility Exhibition closed on 16 May at Fiera Milano with 31,686 trade visitors from 80 countries, a result in line with the previous edition that reinforces the solidity and increasingly central role of both events within the mobility and logistics landscape. Thanks to the presence of more than 500 companies and over 50 conferences on the agenda, the two exhibitions provided an integrated reading of the transformations underway, confirming their ability to bring together companies, institutions, and operators around the key issues shaping the market.
This edition took place at a time when the sector is not only demanding product innovation but concrete responses: energy costs, supply chain resilience, and the evolution of collective mobility are redefining the choices of companies and operators. In this phase of transformation, Transpotec Logitec and NME provided an opportunity to bring operators and institutions, bringing shared priorities to the fore.
“The days of the exhibitions clearly highlighted the central role of freight and passenger transport in sustaining and driving the growth of the production system and local economies. The dialogue between operators, institutions, and value chains brought shared priorities to the forefront of the debate, turning Transpotec Logitec and NME into working platforms addressing the most urgent issues for the sector.” – said Sara Quotti Tubi, Head of Energy & Transportation Exhibitions at Fiera Milano – “The calls from operators – particularly regarding energy costs and the sustainability of investments – found in the exhibitions an effective amplifier capable of triggering immediate dialogue with Italian institutions. The announcement of the working group on rising fuel costs, launched here, is a clear signal: trade fairs today are no longer just networking spaces, but platforms that help identify common decisions and make them happen”.
Transpotec Logitec: logistics at the core
A major new feature of this edition, welcomed enthusiastically by exhibitors and visitors, was the renewed focus on logistics, both through a dedicated exhibition area – hosting more than 100 companies – and through a conference program addressing, from a transversal perspective, the key issues currently affecting the sector’s competitiveness: demand, multimodality, digitalisation, and infrastructure bottlenecks, with particular attention to the main European logistics corridors.
On the road transport front – a fundamental link in the logistics value chain – the presence of all European truck manufacturers along with numerous brands of light commercial vehicles and bodybuilders provided a comprehensive overview of vehicle evolution, with numerous premieres, launches, and national and international presentations under the banner of technological plurality and customisation. Notably, some exhibitors chose to showcase not only products but also their corporate values, ranging from heritage to inclusion initiatives. As a result, Transpotec Logitec became the stage for important anniversaries, but also a moment to raise awareness of projects such as PizzaAut, a social inclusion project that promotes the employment of people with autism, supported and promoted through a food truck operating throughout the exhibition days.
Finally, experience-driven initiatives were highly appreciated and well attended: over 600 test drives were carried out across the four days of the exhibition, while – after a particularly rainy Friday – Saturday saw strong attendance in the outdoor areas of the Truck Look Village, with over 100 decorated trucks on display, testifying to the role of passion and solidarity that characterize the world of road haulage and its professionals.
NME: collective mobility, investment as a priority
On the passenger mobility side, NME opened a broad discussion among companies, policy makers, academia, and public and private operators, highlighting a shared position: without a change in mindset – embracing new mobility models, infrastructure development, and fresh investment – the transition cannot be sustainable. Vehicles and technologies, at the core of the exhibition offering, are already available, but fleet renewal and infrastructure upgrades require adequate support policies capable of providing long-term visibility beyond the investments initiated in recent years thanks to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), now reaching completion.
Thanks to the contribution of Agens, ANAV, ASSTRA and Politecnico di Milano the exhibition provided a detailed overview of the sector’s current state, while also fostering discussion on how to respond effectively to changing user behaviours, characterised by increasingly fragmented demand driven by new needs – such as remote working – which has reshaped commuting times, schedules, and patterns. In this context, MaaS (Mobility as a Service) technologies can offer tailored public transport solutions for increasingly broad segments of the population.
MOST (the Italian Centre for Sustainable Mobility), Politecnico di Milano, Club Italia and IoMobility provided in-depth insights into smart mobility, understood as the integration of vehicles, infrastructure, and digital ecosystems. Data management, artificial intelligence, predictive maintenance, and digital platforms are becoming key tools to improve service efficiency and the quality of the travel experience.
Finally, thanks to the contribution of Professor Sergio Savaresi from the Politecnico di Milano and the experience of dedicated start-ups, NME also expanded the discussion towards future scenarios, analysing the potential and benefits of autonomous driving. The robotaxi model was at the centre of the discussion, with the announcement of pilot projects set to launch in Italy in the coming months, which could support the development of shared mobility.
Jobs and skills: the cross-sector challenge
A common element across both exhibitions was the issue of professions, now one of the main challenges for the entire sector. Labour shortages, a strong generational imbalance, and the growing demand for new technical skills are making it increasingly urgent to strengthen dialogue between education and industry and to bring younger generations closer to the opportunities offered by the sector.
Against this backdrop, initiatives focused on career guidance and matching labour supply and demand were developed. More than 400 high-school students took part in the day dedicated to professions, engaging in events organised by Think Smart Mobility @MIND and Next To The Truckers together with industry operators. Students showed strong attention and interest in the sessions and discussions on future careers in transport and logistics. At the same time, companies expressed strong appreciation for the initiative, launching recruitment processes that may lead to job placements and school-to-work integration programmes.
