China
Shanghai
UMR Index Rank
#25
(+8)
Score: 58%
Sustainable Mobility
#15
(-1)
Score: 60.8%
Public Transit
#17
(+10)
Score: 59.7%
Technology Adoption
#3
Score: 66.5%
| Population | 27.0 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 4,333 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 6,221 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 26,468 |
UMR Index Rank
#25
(+8)
Score: 58%
Sustainable Mobility
#15
(-1)
Score: 60.8%
Public Transit
#17
(+10)
Score: 59.7%
Technology Adoption
#3
Score: 66.5%
What Shanghai Does Well In Urban Mobility
Shanghai excels in urban mobility innovation and technology, ranking third on the Technology Adoption sub-index behind San Francisco and Los Angeles. Shanghai’s strong electric vehicle (EV) market share in sales has benefitted from government investment in charging stations, while past subsidies have boosted sales numbers. There is a vibrant consumer market with many EV models available, including at highly competitive prices. Shanghai has autonomous transit in operation on the Digital Rail Rapid Transit system in the special economic zone of Lingang, and government investment in connected and autonomous vehicles is well above the global average. In 2024, Shanghai tested autonomous cars with free rides for residents. Investments in areas such as electric and autonomous technologies are driving the city’s strong performance on innovation.
Shanghai has well-connected roads with relatively few road-related fatalities and an excellent regional rail network. In 2023 the city continued to build on this strength when it unveiled plans to build new tunnels and passages under and across the Huangpu River.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For Shanghai’s Transportation System
Shanghai’s public transit system lags behind some of its Asian peers, with less developed multimodality and a lower density of stops. Shanghai aims to improve by expanding the metro system. For example, construction for a new line 19 that will traverse five districts from north to south with 34 stations began in 2024. The city’s 2035 plan targets a public transit modal share of more than 50%, with green transportation accounting for 85%. In 2024, Shanghai introduced the One Code Pass initiative that makes it easier to travel between cities in the region with an integrated travel platform. However, public transport remains expensive for Shanghai residents compared with other cities.
Despite significant improvements, Shanghai suffers from high levels of noise and light pollution. The city is taking steps to mitigate the problem: In 2024 the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment published a plan to reduce noise pollution by 2026. The plan includes initiatives like promoting low- noise construction techniques in the building sector along with noise-reduction measures in the transportation and shipping sectors.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How Shanghai Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
Shanghai has a lower density of public transit than top cities. In addition to improvements already underway, Shanghai can add more bus routes and stops to help connect residents with metro lines. This is a cost-effective improvement that can help lower walking distances and reduce overall commute times. Shanghai also can improve the affordability of its public transport, such as by introducing specific fares for lower-income commuters. Shanghai can extend transit operating hours. If Shanghai extends operating hours by roughly nine hours a week, it can match the performance of regional peer Jakarta. Such changes can be implemented at a faster rate than new infrastructure projects to improve Shanghai’s public transit.
Despite its leading bike-share offering to climb in the rankings, Shanghai can invest more in cycling infrastructure and pedestrian walkways. This can include building more dedicated cycling and walking paths and separating non-motorized from motorized modes of transport to enhance safety. The city’s large surface area can make it challenging to provide high-quality infrastructure to all residents.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley