The Toyota Mobility Foundation and POLIS, the European network of cities and regions, have launched the Inclusive Mobility Cities Challenge. The multi-year programme will choose three to five mid-sized cities and give them project funding and expert support to tackle mobility barriers faced by underserved residents. Applications close on 11 December 2026.

The Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) and POLIS announced the Inclusive Mobility Cities Challenge in Brussels on 27 October 2026. The European programme will help a small group of mid-sized cities design, test and evaluate mobility solutions with their own residents. The aim is to make everyday travel more inclusive, sustainable and resilient.

The partners have split the work between them. TMF brings its experience in human-centred mobility projects, and POLIS brings a network of 130 cities, regions and related organisations working on local transport across Europe. Rupprecht Consult, an independent research and consultancy firm based in Cologne, is the implementation partner.

Three to five Champion Cities

The call is not open to everyone. Only POLIS member cities and regions, and cities that already have a relationship with TMF, can apply. Applicants must describe a clearly defined mobility problem and an integrated plan for solving it. Following a competitive evaluation, three to five of them will be named “Champion Cities”.

To be eligible, an applicant must:

  • be a POLIS member city or region and/or have an existing relationship with TMF
  • be located in the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or the United Kingdom
  • represent a city or functional urban area with between 100,000 and 1,000,000 inhabitants
  • show political commitment and the organisational capacity to run a multi-year programme
  • submit an Expression of Interest signed by an authorised political representative

People first, not gadgets

The organisers say the programme is not about stand-alone technology. They want practical, people-centred measures that make daily travel more accessible, affordable and safe, and that help people take part in daily life. The main focus is transport poverty, meaning the overlapping barriers that can stop people from reaching jobs, education, healthcare and social activities.

The Challenge also targets physical accessibility constraints, gaps in transport services and unequal mobility outcomes linked to age, gender, disability or other social and economic factors. Applicants are asked to show which underserved groups would benefit and how residents will take part in designing and delivering the project.

Proposals can cover active mobility, public transport, shared mobility and integrated mobility services. They can also cover supporting measures such as behavioural change, demand management, safety improvements, mobility management and new uses of public space. Every project should contribute to more sustainable mobility and, where relevant, consider zero-emission and smart mobility solutions.

Funding, expertise and peer learning

The selected cities will receive financial support, but the release does not say how much. They will also get technical expertise, implementation guidance, help with monitoring and the chance to share knowledge with other cities in the POLIS network. Local projects will run for up to four years. They will be judged against agreed indicators covering accessibility, affordability, usability, safety and social inclusion.

The partners plan to turn the results into practical guidance, training and policy recommendations so that other cities can copy approaches that work.

What it means

This is not a vehicle story. It is part of Toyota’s long-running “Mobility for All” positioning, alongside services such as its KINTO mobility brand, which the company says operates in 20 countries in Europe. TMF was set up by Toyota Motor Corporation in August 2014 and is chaired by Akio Toyoda.

“TMF aims to create a truly mobile society that will help people live better lives no matter where they are,” said Chair Akio Toyoda.

The programme is aimed at cities between 100,000 and 1,000,000 inhabitants. Places of that size can be big enough to have real transport gaps but may lack the resources of major capitals, so the funding could make a noticeable difference to them.

At a glance: Inclusive Mobility Cities Challenge

  • Organisers: Toyota Mobility Foundation and POLIS, with Rupprecht Consult as implementation partner
  • Cities selected: three to five Champion Cities
  • Eligible population: 100,000 to 1,000,000 inhabitants
  • Eligible countries: EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, United Kingdom
  • Project duration: up to four years
  • Applications: opened 12 October 2026, close 11 December 2026 at 23:59 CET
  • Pre-selection results: expected February 2027

Applications close on Friday 11 December 2026 at 23:59 CET. Pre-selected applicants are expected to hear in February 2027, and project development should begin soon after.

Source: newsroom.toyota.eu