Transport networks are the complex circulatory systems of our cities, states and countries. When working well, they enable the economy, social connection and the movement of goods and services. But when a sudden disruption hits, whether it’s a flash flood, major event or infrastructure failure, these same systems can rapidly become a source of difficulty. Congestion escalates as mobility becomes most urgent, freight delays spread across supply chains and emergency vehicles struggle to reach people who need help most.

Transportation gives our cities life, enabling people and goods to flow through increasingly complex urban environments. But in the past decade, congestion has intensified across the United States. It’s getting harder to predict and more expensive to leave unchecked. At the same time, cities, governments and planners now have access to smarter, data-driven tools to manage today’s rising mobility challenges.

For more than 15 years, the TomTom Traffic Index has monitored the health of our roads, capturing its minute-by-minute pulse to assemble a year-long overview of how vehicles have moved through hundreds of our world’s major cities. This year’s edition tells a painfully familiar story. As cities grow and journeys multiply, the challenge of managing city road networks continues to loom over municipalities, town planners and transit authorities. The Traffic Index confirms that keeping traffic moving has never been more difficult. How can we keep tackling such a challenge? With data, lots of data.

Every day, millions use the roads to get to their destinations. Despite advances in vehicle technology, emergency response and roadway design, drivers and passengers continue to be vulnerable. As the way we move changes, traditional safety approaches can’t keep up with evolving risks. Today, agencies are turning to smarter, data-driven approaches — using real-time insights to spot dangers before incidents happen and build safer, more resilient transportation networks. Around the world, cities have seen that with the right data and proactive strategies, Vision Zero is within reach.

With AI taking on a larger role in automated driving (AD), expectations of what autonomous vehicles should be capable of are rising. Vehicles are expected to go beyond reacting to what's ahead, and even predict what will happen next. In this growing reliance on neural networks, maps have increasingly been labeled as optional, or even obsolete. But as with every new tech, there's a path to evolution until things work perfectly. The modern world of safe automated driving still depends on a contextual awareness and grounded understanding of what lies ahead — how the road is shaped, how traffic typically behaves and what situations are likely to unfold beyond the range of onboard sensors.

Being ranked fourth for R&D investment in the Netherlands alongside companies like Booking.com, Philips and ASML is an amazing achievement — but it doesn’t surprise me. It reflects what TomTom’s become: an organization built on a bold strategy, bolder ambition and long-term innovation.

When I look back at the last two years of airport-area traffic data, I see a story unfolding in chapters, starting with the major holidays. Those weeks gave us a preview of just how differently airports respond to the same national moments, and they set the stage for what we would see throughout 2025.

Smarter cars, happier drivers: The real-world impact of AI assistants.

Picture this: your city needs to expand its public transport infrastructure, and you’re responsible for figuring out the best spots for new connections. You have lots of data, from existing public transport sites to everyday commuter patterns. To map out your datasets — and convert them into actionable insight — you first need to make them interoperable. Enter TomTom Global Entity Matcher (GEM).

The automotive industry is transforming as software defined vehicles become a norm. Carmakers now have a huge opportunity to open new revenue streams while improving the driver experience. What does this look like, and where does the most value lie?

Today, TomTom releases the alpha version of TomTom Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, a solution that enables AI agents access to TomTom data and APIs, bringing more context and spatial awareness to different AI use cases. We explore the use of AI solutions at TomTom and speak to our product team about TomTom MCP Server.

Retail is being reshaped by digital commerce, but for brands with a physical footprint, location is still one of the most strategic and costly decisions they make. Choosing the right site isn’t just about foot traffic anymore. It’s about access, timing, visibility and long-term viability. As cities change, commutes shift and consumer routines evolve, location decisions have become more difficult and even more crucial for businesses.

When looking for a place to live, we all consider the amenities we’ll find in the area. It's handy to have supermarkets, a hospital or a school nearby. And of course, having a few nice restaurants to order takeout from doesn’t hurt. But did you know these could impact the premium you pay on auto or property insurance? That cozy neighborhood café or the traffic-prone road around the corner might be affecting your insurance rates more than you think.

Road safety has long been central to automotive innovation. From the era of seatbelts and airbags to the latest developments in ADAS and automated driving, safety features have continually evolved to protect people, both inside and outside the vehicles. Despite this, progress in reducing road fatalities remains slow.

For the past few years, cities have been implementing several new safety measures. One of the most noticeable features has been the decrease in speed limits within city boundaries. Taking a look at the data for Bologna and Amsterdam, we try to measure how successful these initiatives have been.

The automotive world has entered a new era and the old rules no longer apply. What was once a European and North American stronghold is now a fiercely competitive global arena, one where innovation is coming from all corners of the world, especially emerging markets.