GITNUXREPORT 2025

Transport Industry Statistics

Transport industry emits 24% of global CO2; electric vehicles rapidly grow worldwide.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

The global transportation sector is responsible for approximately 24% of energy-related CO2 emissions

Statistic 2

The average fuel consumption of new passenger cars in the US decreased by 2.5% in 2022 compared to the previous year

Statistic 3

About 20% of greenhouse gases from transportation are from road vehicles

Statistic 4

The transportation sector in the EU accounts for nearly 25% of the total greenhouse gas emissions

Statistic 5

The adoption of green freight initiatives has reduced carbon emissions by up to 25% in some logistics companies

Statistic 6

About 35% of CO2 emissions from transportation are from passenger cars globally

Statistic 7

The average carbon intensity of rail freight is about 80 grams of CO2 per ton-kilometer, significantly lower than road freight

Statistic 8

Approximately 1.3 billion cars were registered worldwide as of 2020

Statistic 9

The maritime shipping industry accounts for about 90% of the world’s trade by volume

Statistic 10

The number of electric vehicles on the road worldwide surpassed 10 million in 2020

Statistic 11

The global rail transport market size was estimated at USD 530 billion in 2019

Statistic 12

In 2022, the airline industry carried over 4.5 billion passengers worldwide

Statistic 13

The global drone delivery market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.2% from 2023 to 2030

Statistic 14

The global logistics market is projected to reach USD 12.68 trillion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.8%

Statistic 15

The freight transportation segment in the US increased by 24% between 2005 and 2019

Statistic 16

The global hyperloop market is projected to reach USD 6.54 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 30.4%

Statistic 17

The number of registered electric buses worldwide surpassed 600,000 in 2022

Statistic 18

Commercial aviation industry revenues totaled approximately USD 400 billion in 2021 after significant downturns in 2020

Statistic 19

The number of cargo ships worldwide is estimated at over 50,000 ships, contributing massively to global freight capacity

Statistic 20

The adoption rate of autonomous vehicles is expected to reach 30% of new vehicles by 2030

Statistic 21

The global bicycle market size was valued at USD 54 billion in 2022, with a projected CAGR of 4.4% from 2023 to 2030

Statistic 22

In 2022, electric freight trucks accounted for less than 2% of the total freight truck fleet globally, indicating a significant growth potential

Statistic 23

The world's largest container port is the Shanghai Port, handling over 47 million TEUs in 2022

Statistic 24

The average number of daily flights in Europe was approximately 24,000 before the COVID-19 pandemic, dropping to around 8,000 in 2020, but gradually recovering

Statistic 25

The electric bike (e-bike) market is projected to reach USD 38 billion by 2027 with a CAGR of 7.9%

Statistic 26

Globally, around 1.4 billion people rely on public transportation daily, providing mobility to approximately 20% of the world's population

Statistic 27

The average cost of vehicle ownership in the US is about USD 9,500 annually, including fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation

Statistic 28

The global air freight market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2023 to 2030, reaching USD 115 billion by 2030

Statistic 29

In 2021, global investment in transportation infrastructure was over USD 500 billion, focused heavily on sustainable transit solutions

Statistic 30

The average age of the global commercial vehicle fleet is over 9 years, indicating a slow upgrade cycle

Statistic 31

The percentage of ride-sharing trips in urban areas in the US doubled between 2017 and 2022, showing a shift in urban mobility patterns

Statistic 32

The global autonomous vehicle market is projected to reach USD 174 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of around 22%

Statistic 33

The global travel and transportation industry is expected to generate over USD 2.2 trillion in revenue in 2023, course upward trend

Statistic 34

The share of electric cars in China reached approximately 30% of new car sales in 2022, making it the world's largest electric vehicle market

Statistic 35

The global marine fuel market is projected to be valued at USD 105 billion by 2028, driven by regulatory changes and technological advances

Statistic 36

The number of people employed in the global transport industry exceeds 100 million, with logistics and freight accounting for a significant portion

Statistic 37

In 2022, global shipping container throughput increased by 5.3%, indicating growth in international trade.

Statistic 38

The average annual expenditure on transport infrastructure per capita in developing countries was around USD 45 in 2022, highlighting investment gaps

Statistic 39

The global freight forwarding industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2023 to 2028, reaching approximately USD 78 billion

Statistic 40

The share of renewable energy in transportation fuels globally increased to about 8.5% in 2022, up from 4.2% in 2015, driven mainly by biofuels and electricity

Statistic 41

The global e-commerce logistics market is projected to reach USD 1.2 trillion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14%

Statistic 42

The total number of registered motorcycles globally exceeds 200 million, with high growth rates in Asia

Statistic 43

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic led to a 5% decrease in global freight transportation volumes in 2020, with gradual recovery afterward

Statistic 44

The number of new urban mobility startups increased by over 50% between 2020 and 2022, reflecting innovation in the sector

Statistic 45

The average fuel efficiency for trucks increased by 8% from 2018 to 2022 due to technological improvements

Statistic 46

The development of hyper-local delivery networks has increased last-mile delivery efficiency by up to 30%

Statistic 47

The digital transformation in transport logistics has increased real-time tracking accuracy to over 92%, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction

Statistic 48

The average age of trucks on U.S. roads is over 10 years, indicating a slow fleet renewal process

Statistic 49

The average lifespan of a bicycle in urban areas is around 5 years before major repairs or replacement

Statistic 50

The average delivery time for online shopping parcels in the US is approximately 4 days

Statistic 51

The number of high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in the US increased by 65% since 2000, aiming to reduce congestion

Statistic 52

The average freight cost for U.S. companies increased by 12% from 2022 to 2023 due to rising fuel prices and supply chain disruptions

Statistic 53

Approximately 60% of the total global freight volume is transported via land, with trucks and trains being primary modes

Statistic 54

The average highway accident rate per million vehicle miles traveled has decreased by approximately 20% over the last decade due to improved safety measures

Statistic 55

The average parking space occupancy rate in major urban centers varies between 85% and 95%, indicating severe parking shortages

Statistic 56

The average truck driver in the US works over 60 hours per week, averaging 500 miles per day, contributing to fatigue and safety issues

Statistic 57

Urban congestion causes an estimated 2.9 billion liters of fuel to be wasted annually in the US alone

Statistic 58

75% of urban freight transportation in Europe is carried out by trucks, contributing significantly to city congestion

Statistic 59

The rise in ride-hailing services has contributed to a 10% decrease in private vehicle ownership in urban areas of major cities

Statistic 60

Investments in intelligent traffic management systems in large cities have reduced congestion by up to 25%

Slide 1 of 60

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

The global transportation sector is responsible for approximately 24% of energy-related CO2 emissions
Approximately 1.3 billion cars were registered worldwide as of 2020
The maritime shipping industry accounts for about 90% of the world’s trade by volume
The number of electric vehicles on the road worldwide surpassed 10 million in 2020
The global rail transport market size was estimated at USD 530 billion in 2019
The average fuel consumption of new passenger cars in the US decreased by 2.5% in 2022 compared to the previous year
In 2022, the airline industry carried over 4.5 billion passengers worldwide
Urban congestion causes an estimated 2.9 billion liters of fuel to be wasted annually in the US alone
The global drone delivery market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.2% from 2023 to 2030
About 20% of greenhouse gases from transportation are from road vehicles
The average age of trucks on U.S. roads is over 10 years, indicating a slow fleet renewal process
The global logistics market is projected to reach USD 12.68 trillion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.8%
The average lifespan of a bicycle in urban areas is around 5 years before major repairs or replacement

The transportation industry is at a pivotal crossroads, with over a quarter of global CO2 emissions stemming from mobility and rapid innovations like electric vehicles, autonomous tech, and sustainable logistics transforming how billions move across the world.

Environmental Impact and Emissions

The global transportation sector is responsible for approximately 24% of energy-related CO2 emissions
The average fuel consumption of new passenger cars in the US decreased by 2.5% in 2022 compared to the previous year
About 20% of greenhouse gases from transportation are from road vehicles
The transportation sector in the EU accounts for nearly 25% of the total greenhouse gas emissions
The adoption of green freight initiatives has reduced carbon emissions by up to 25% in some logistics companies
About 35% of CO2 emissions from transportation are from passenger cars globally
The average carbon intensity of rail freight is about 80 grams of CO2 per ton-kilometer, significantly lower than road freight

Environmental Impact and Emissions Interpretation

With transportation contributing nearly a quarter of global CO2 emissions, the industry’s shift toward greener freight and more efficient cars hints at progress—yet the road ahead remains long, especially with passenger vehicles still representing over a third of transport-related emissions.

Market Size, Growth, and Investment

Approximately 1.3 billion cars were registered worldwide as of 2020
The maritime shipping industry accounts for about 90% of the world’s trade by volume
The number of electric vehicles on the road worldwide surpassed 10 million in 2020
The global rail transport market size was estimated at USD 530 billion in 2019
In 2022, the airline industry carried over 4.5 billion passengers worldwide
The global drone delivery market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.2% from 2023 to 2030
The global logistics market is projected to reach USD 12.68 trillion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.8%
The freight transportation segment in the US increased by 24% between 2005 and 2019
The global hyperloop market is projected to reach USD 6.54 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 30.4%
The number of registered electric buses worldwide surpassed 600,000 in 2022
Commercial aviation industry revenues totaled approximately USD 400 billion in 2021 after significant downturns in 2020
The number of cargo ships worldwide is estimated at over 50,000 ships, contributing massively to global freight capacity
The adoption rate of autonomous vehicles is expected to reach 30% of new vehicles by 2030
The global bicycle market size was valued at USD 54 billion in 2022, with a projected CAGR of 4.4% from 2023 to 2030
In 2022, electric freight trucks accounted for less than 2% of the total freight truck fleet globally, indicating a significant growth potential
The world's largest container port is the Shanghai Port, handling over 47 million TEUs in 2022
The average number of daily flights in Europe was approximately 24,000 before the COVID-19 pandemic, dropping to around 8,000 in 2020, but gradually recovering
The electric bike (e-bike) market is projected to reach USD 38 billion by 2027 with a CAGR of 7.9%
Globally, around 1.4 billion people rely on public transportation daily, providing mobility to approximately 20% of the world's population
The average cost of vehicle ownership in the US is about USD 9,500 annually, including fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation
The global air freight market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2023 to 2030, reaching USD 115 billion by 2030
In 2021, global investment in transportation infrastructure was over USD 500 billion, focused heavily on sustainable transit solutions
The average age of the global commercial vehicle fleet is over 9 years, indicating a slow upgrade cycle
The percentage of ride-sharing trips in urban areas in the US doubled between 2017 and 2022, showing a shift in urban mobility patterns
The global autonomous vehicle market is projected to reach USD 174 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of around 22%
The global travel and transportation industry is expected to generate over USD 2.2 trillion in revenue in 2023, course upward trend
The share of electric cars in China reached approximately 30% of new car sales in 2022, making it the world's largest electric vehicle market
The global marine fuel market is projected to be valued at USD 105 billion by 2028, driven by regulatory changes and technological advances
The number of people employed in the global transport industry exceeds 100 million, with logistics and freight accounting for a significant portion
In 2022, global shipping container throughput increased by 5.3%, indicating growth in international trade.
The average annual expenditure on transport infrastructure per capita in developing countries was around USD 45 in 2022, highlighting investment gaps
The global freight forwarding industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2023 to 2028, reaching approximately USD 78 billion
The share of renewable energy in transportation fuels globally increased to about 8.5% in 2022, up from 4.2% in 2015, driven mainly by biofuels and electricity
The global e-commerce logistics market is projected to reach USD 1.2 trillion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14%
The total number of registered motorcycles globally exceeds 200 million, with high growth rates in Asia
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic led to a 5% decrease in global freight transportation volumes in 2020, with gradual recovery afterward
The number of new urban mobility startups increased by over 50% between 2020 and 2022, reflecting innovation in the sector

Market Size, Growth, and Investment Interpretation

With over 1.3 billion cars cruising the planet and trade channels dominated by 90% maritime freight, the transport industry is both a colossal engine of global commerce and a stubborn reminder that as we speed toward innovation—with electric vehicles, autonomous tech, and hyperloop dreams—the road to sustainable and efficient mobility still demands a billion-dollar overhaul.

Technological Advancements and Innovations

The average fuel efficiency for trucks increased by 8% from 2018 to 2022 due to technological improvements
The development of hyper-local delivery networks has increased last-mile delivery efficiency by up to 30%
The digital transformation in transport logistics has increased real-time tracking accuracy to over 92%, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction

Technological Advancements and Innovations Interpretation

The transport industry’s swift embrace of technological advancements—from an 8% boost in truck fuel efficiency and a 30% leap in last-mile delivery to over 92% real-time tracking accuracy—proves that smart innovations are driving us closer to a future where efficiency and customer satisfaction are fundamentally linked to digital evolution.

Transportation Modes and Infrastructure

The average age of trucks on U.S. roads is over 10 years, indicating a slow fleet renewal process
The average lifespan of a bicycle in urban areas is around 5 years before major repairs or replacement
The average delivery time for online shopping parcels in the US is approximately 4 days
The number of high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in the US increased by 65% since 2000, aiming to reduce congestion
The average freight cost for U.S. companies increased by 12% from 2022 to 2023 due to rising fuel prices and supply chain disruptions
Approximately 60% of the total global freight volume is transported via land, with trucks and trains being primary modes
The average highway accident rate per million vehicle miles traveled has decreased by approximately 20% over the last decade due to improved safety measures
The average parking space occupancy rate in major urban centers varies between 85% and 95%, indicating severe parking shortages
The average truck driver in the US works over 60 hours per week, averaging 500 miles per day, contributing to fatigue and safety issues

Transportation Modes and Infrastructure Interpretation

Despite a sluggish truck fleet renewal and staggering parking shortages, the rising costs, extended delivery times, and demanding driver hours highlight that America's transportation system is strained, aging, and in urgent need of a strategic overhaul.

Urban Mobility and Congestion

Urban congestion causes an estimated 2.9 billion liters of fuel to be wasted annually in the US alone
75% of urban freight transportation in Europe is carried out by trucks, contributing significantly to city congestion
The rise in ride-hailing services has contributed to a 10% decrease in private vehicle ownership in urban areas of major cities
Investments in intelligent traffic management systems in large cities have reduced congestion by up to 25%

Urban Mobility and Congestion Interpretation

While urban congestion continues to drain billions of liters of fuel and clog city streets, innovative traffic management and the shifting landscape of transportation suggest a path toward smarter, cleaner, and more efficient urban mobility—if only we can navigate the complex logistics of change.