GITNUXREPORT 2025

Transportation Industry Statistics

Transportation industry significantly impacts emissions, efficiency, and innovation globally.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Electric vehicles (EVs) represented about 4.1% of global car sales in 2021

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As of 2022, Asia had the largest share of electric vehicle stock, with over 65% of global EVs

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The number of registered electric buses worldwide surpassed 500,000 units in 2022

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The production of lithium batteries for EVs increased by over 40% in 2022, reaching a total capacity of approximately 1.5 TWh

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The world's largest bus manufacturer is China’s BYD, holding about 20% of global electric bus market share in 2022

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The average fuel efficiency of light-duty vehicles in the U.S. improved from 20.9 mpg in 2010 to 26.4 mpg in 2022

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The number of electric two-wheelers globally exceeded 265 million units in 2022

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About 70% of freight worldwide is transported by road

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The total freight ton-kilometers transported in the world reached approximately 9,264 billion ton-km in 2021

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Rail freight accounts for roughly 8% of worldwide freight transport by volume

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In 2020, the global maritime shipping industry transported approximately 80-90% of world trade by volume

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Approximately 90% of the world's population lives within 100 km of a sea or ocean, affecting maritime transportation routes

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The U.S. postal service delivers about 48 million packages daily

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The average freight truck in the U.S. travels around 62,000 miles annually

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In 2021, global shipping container throughput increased by 3.2%, reaching over 850 million TEUs

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The number of freight rail cars in the U.S. was approximately 65,000 in 2020

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The average delivery time for e-commerce shipments in urban areas is approximately 2-3 days

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The average duration of a shipping container journey from Asia to Europe is approximately 35 days

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The adoption rate of telematics in commercial trucks increased by over 50% from 2018 to 2022

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The global airline industry is expected to recover to 88% of pre-pandemic passenger levels in 2023

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The transportation sector in the U.S. consumed about 27.2 quadrillion BTUs of energy in 2020

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By 2030, the global market for hydrogen in transportation is projected to reach $70 billion

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The total number of ride-hailing trips made globally reached approximately 24 billion in 2022

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The average age of commercial aircraft in operation worldwide is around 11 years

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The global logistics market is valued at approximately $12 trillion as of 2023

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The annual revenue of the global shipping industry exceeds $1.5 trillion

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The global drone delivery market is expected to reach $29 billion by 2030, representing a CAGR of 20% from 2023

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The demand for Logistics-as-a-Service (LaaS) is growing at an annual rate of approximately 18%

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In 2022, the global market share of autonomous trucks was estimated at around 3%, with expectations to reach 20% by 2030

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The use of alternative fuels in transportation increased by 15% globally in 2021

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The global market for transportation analytics solutions is projected to reach $14 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 9.5%

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The percentage of freight transported via air is less than 1% by volume but accounts for over 35% of total freight value

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The total number of registered motorcycles in the world is over 200 million, with Asia holding the largest market share

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In 2022, the adoption of congestion pricing in cities like London and Singapore led to a 20-30% decrease in urban vehicle trips

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The number of fatalities in road traffic accidents globally was roughly 1.3 million in 2020, with significant reductions in some regions due to safety measures

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The global transportation sector contributed approximately 24.1% to total CO2 emissions in 2019

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The number of registered vehicles worldwide reached over 1.4 billion in 2019

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The average commute time in urban areas globally is approximately 36 minutes one-way

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The average age of trucks on U.S. roads is approximately 10.5 years

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The average cost of urban congestion in the U.S. amounts to about $1,400 per driver annually

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The number of autonomous vehicles tested in the U.S. exceeded 300 in 2022

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In Europe, about 84% of passenger trips are made by cars

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The sector of urban transit systems has seen a 65% increase in ridership after pandemic lows, as of 2022

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The number of high-speed rail lines worldwide increased to over 24,000 km in 2021

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About 80% of the world's population does not have access to reliable public transportation, affecting mobility options

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The number of registered bicycles globally is estimated at over 1 billion, with Asia accounting for more than half

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The infrastructure investment in transportation in the U.S. was approximately $105 billion in 2022

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The average lifespan of a European motor vehicle is around 14 years

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The aviation industry’s contribution to global GDP is approximately $2.7 trillion annually

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The transit fare revenue in major U.S. cities accounts for about 30% of operational costs

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In 2022, the global dockless bike-share market was valued at around $1.2 billion, with growth driven by urbanization and mobility trends

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Key Highlights

The global transportation sector contributed approximately 24.1% to total CO2 emissions in 2019
About 70% of freight worldwide is transported by road
The number of registered vehicles worldwide reached over 1.4 billion in 2019
The average commute time in urban areas globally is approximately 36 minutes one-way
The global airline industry is expected to recover to 88% of pre-pandemic passenger levels in 2023
The total freight ton-kilometers transported in the world reached approximately 9,264 billion ton-km in 2021
Electric vehicles (EVs) represented about 4.1% of global car sales in 2021
The average age of trucks on U.S. roads is approximately 10.5 years
Rail freight accounts for roughly 8% of worldwide freight transport by volume
The transportation sector in the U.S. consumed about 27.2 quadrillion BTUs of energy in 2020
As of 2022, Asia had the largest share of electric vehicle stock, with over 65% of global EVs
In 2020, the global maritime shipping industry transported approximately 80-90% of world trade by volume
The average cost of urban congestion in the U.S. amounts to about $1,400 per driver annually

The transportation industry is at a pivotal crossroads, with its massive contribution to CO2 emissions, rapid technological innovations like electric and autonomous vehicles, and shifting mobility patterns shaping a complex landscape that impacts global economics and environmental sustainability.

Electric and Alternative Vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) represented about 4.1% of global car sales in 2021
As of 2022, Asia had the largest share of electric vehicle stock, with over 65% of global EVs
The number of registered electric buses worldwide surpassed 500,000 units in 2022
The production of lithium batteries for EVs increased by over 40% in 2022, reaching a total capacity of approximately 1.5 TWh
The world's largest bus manufacturer is China’s BYD, holding about 20% of global electric bus market share in 2022
The average fuel efficiency of light-duty vehicles in the U.S. improved from 20.9 mpg in 2010 to 26.4 mpg in 2022
The number of electric two-wheelers globally exceeded 265 million units in 2022

Electric and Alternative Vehicles Interpretation

With electric vehicles steadily electrifying the transportation landscape—accounting for 4.1% of global sales, over 500,000 electric buses worldwide, and a burgeoning fleet of electric two-wheelers—Asia’s dominance, driven by giants like China’s BYD, and leaps in battery capacity and fuel efficiency, underscore that the ride toward a cleaner, smarter mobility future is accelerating, albeit still in its early kilometers.

Freight and Logistics Operations

About 70% of freight worldwide is transported by road
The total freight ton-kilometers transported in the world reached approximately 9,264 billion ton-km in 2021
Rail freight accounts for roughly 8% of worldwide freight transport by volume
In 2020, the global maritime shipping industry transported approximately 80-90% of world trade by volume
Approximately 90% of the world's population lives within 100 km of a sea or ocean, affecting maritime transportation routes
The U.S. postal service delivers about 48 million packages daily
The average freight truck in the U.S. travels around 62,000 miles annually
In 2021, global shipping container throughput increased by 3.2%, reaching over 850 million TEUs
The number of freight rail cars in the U.S. was approximately 65,000 in 2020
The average delivery time for e-commerce shipments in urban areas is approximately 2-3 days
The average duration of a shipping container journey from Asia to Europe is approximately 35 days
The adoption rate of telematics in commercial trucks increased by over 50% from 2018 to 2022

Freight and Logistics Operations Interpretation

Despite the omnipresence of maritime shipping and a staggering 9,264 billion ton-km of freight in 2021, the road remains king—driving about 70% of global freight, a fact underscored by U.S. trucks averaging 62,000 miles annually and telematics increasing over 50%, highlighting that in transportation, even a billion-dollar industry hinges on well-worn roads.

Global Market Trends and Industry Outlook

The global airline industry is expected to recover to 88% of pre-pandemic passenger levels in 2023
The transportation sector in the U.S. consumed about 27.2 quadrillion BTUs of energy in 2020
By 2030, the global market for hydrogen in transportation is projected to reach $70 billion
The total number of ride-hailing trips made globally reached approximately 24 billion in 2022
The average age of commercial aircraft in operation worldwide is around 11 years
The global logistics market is valued at approximately $12 trillion as of 2023
The annual revenue of the global shipping industry exceeds $1.5 trillion
The global drone delivery market is expected to reach $29 billion by 2030, representing a CAGR of 20% from 2023
The demand for Logistics-as-a-Service (LaaS) is growing at an annual rate of approximately 18%
In 2022, the global market share of autonomous trucks was estimated at around 3%, with expectations to reach 20% by 2030
The use of alternative fuels in transportation increased by 15% globally in 2021
The global market for transportation analytics solutions is projected to reach $14 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 9.5%
The percentage of freight transported via air is less than 1% by volume but accounts for over 35% of total freight value
The total number of registered motorcycles in the world is over 200 million, with Asia holding the largest market share

Global Market Trends and Industry Outlook Interpretation

Despite rebounding to 88% of pre-pandemic levels, the transportation industry’s relentless energy consumption, burgeoning markets in hydrogen and drone delivery, and the rapid integration of autonomous and alternative-fueled vehicles collectively illustrate a sector balancing historic volumes with innovative strides toward smarter, greener mobility by 2030.

Safety, Regulation, and Environmental Impact

In 2022, the adoption of congestion pricing in cities like London and Singapore led to a 20-30% decrease in urban vehicle trips
The number of fatalities in road traffic accidents globally was roughly 1.3 million in 2020, with significant reductions in some regions due to safety measures

Safety, Regulation, and Environmental Impact Interpretation

While congestion pricing elegantly curbed urban vehicle trips by up to 30%, the stark reality remains that over a million lives were still lost on the roads globally in 2020, underscoring how traffic safety must be the true destination, not just a toll booth.

Transport Infrastructure and Urban Mobility

The global transportation sector contributed approximately 24.1% to total CO2 emissions in 2019
The number of registered vehicles worldwide reached over 1.4 billion in 2019
The average commute time in urban areas globally is approximately 36 minutes one-way
The average age of trucks on U.S. roads is approximately 10.5 years
The average cost of urban congestion in the U.S. amounts to about $1,400 per driver annually
The number of autonomous vehicles tested in the U.S. exceeded 300 in 2022
In Europe, about 84% of passenger trips are made by cars
The sector of urban transit systems has seen a 65% increase in ridership after pandemic lows, as of 2022
The number of high-speed rail lines worldwide increased to over 24,000 km in 2021
About 80% of the world's population does not have access to reliable public transportation, affecting mobility options
The number of registered bicycles globally is estimated at over 1 billion, with Asia accounting for more than half
The infrastructure investment in transportation in the U.S. was approximately $105 billion in 2022
The average lifespan of a European motor vehicle is around 14 years
The aviation industry’s contribution to global GDP is approximately $2.7 trillion annually
The transit fare revenue in major U.S. cities accounts for about 30% of operational costs
In 2022, the global dockless bike-share market was valued at around $1.2 billion, with growth driven by urbanization and mobility trends

Transport Infrastructure and Urban Mobility Interpretation

With over 1.4 billion vehicles zipping around the globe and transportation contributing nearly a quarter of global CO2 emissions, it's clear that in our race for mobility, we're often leaving sustainability and efficiency in the "black box," as innovation like autonomous cars and high-speed rails strive to accelerate while aging trucks and congested city streets remind us that the journey toward smarter, cleaner transportation is still a long road ahead.