Polis and Toyota Mobility Foundation Join Forces to Fight Transport Poverty Across Europe

A new pan-European initiative has been launched to confront mobility inequality, with the Polis network and the Toyota Mobility Foundation combining their efforts to address transport poverty across the continent.

The partnership brings together Polis, the network that represents European cities and regions on transport innovation, and the Toyota Mobility Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Japanese automaker focused on expanding access to movement. Their shared goal is to tackle the barriers that leave some communities unable to reach jobs, services and opportunities, a problem widely described as transport poverty.

Transport poverty covers far more than simply not owning a car. It includes the inability to afford travel costs, the absence of reliable public transport in a given area, and the difficulty of reaching essential destinations for people with limited mobility. This makes it a cross-cutting challenge that touches urban planning, social policy and the wider shift toward cleaner forms of transport.

The initiative also reflects a broader trend within the automotive and mobility sectors, where manufacturers and foundations are increasingly investing in access-focused programmes rather than purely commercial vehicle sales. For Toyota, the foundation route allows it to support mobility projects at a societal level, while Polis provides the direct link to city authorities and regional decision-makers who shape day-to-day transport policy. The two organisations said the effort will bring together stakeholders to develop and scale solutions across Europe.

While the announcement sets out the intent of the collaboration, further details on funding, pilot cities or specific timelines are not yet available. What is clear is that the project places mobility inequality firmly on the European agenda, framing access to transport as a social issue rather than merely a question of infrastructure.