Personal Rapid Transit Market Size & Industry Report, 2033

Personal Rapid Transit Market overview

The Personal Rapid Transit Market size was valued at USD 5.87 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 11.4 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 8.65% from 2025 to 2033.

The personal rapid transit market is gaining traction worldwide with over 15 active systems operating more than 50 km of dedicated guideways in 2024. Systems like London Heathrow’s pods handle over 2 million passenger trips yearly with about 21 pods working daily. Globally, more than 1,000 pods run every day, moving around 100 million passengers each year.

Average pods carry 2–6 people at speeds of up to 40 km/h while consuming just 0.3 kWh per kilometer per rider. Over 25 cities are testing PRT pilots and planning expansions, adding more than 100 km of new guideways by 2030. In Asia-Pacific, countries such as South Korea and India are expanding PRT faster than anywhere else. South Korea’s VECTUS network added over 5 km of new track in 2023, moving about 10,000 daily commuters.

India’s Metrino-PRT tested a 3 km pilot in New Delhi. PRT cuts urban congestion and reduces CO₂ emissions by about 40% compared to diesel shuttles. Many cities choose elevated guideways to avoid road conflicts. A single pod replaces 3–4 cars on short urban routes. More than 70 million people move into cities yearly, fueling PRT demand as cities aim for low-carbon transport.

Key Findings

DRIVER: Growing need for sustainable urban mobility has pushed more than 25 cities to start new PRT projects, aiming to move 1 million daily passengers with low emissions and faster last-mile connections.

COUNTRY/REGION: Asia-Pacific leads new installations with over 10 km of guideway built in 2023 and more than 15 pilots running in South Korea, India, and China.

SEGMENT: Urban transportation remains dominant, with about 70% of all guideway kilometers serving downtown cores, business districts, and residential zones.

Personal Rapid Transit Market Trends

The PRT market is growing steadily in city centers, airports, and campuses. As of 2024, there are more than 15 operational systems handling over 100 million rides each year worldwide. Heathrow’s 3.8 km track moves 2 million people yearly alone. Airport systems make up about 20% of active use, with new installations planned at five airports by 2025, adding 20 km of new track. The average pod ride cuts waiting time to under 3 minutes. Around 70% of new pods added in 2023 featured IoT tracking for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. Asia-Pacific is leading the trend, with South Korea’s VECTUS adding over 5 km of new guideway in 2023. India’s Metrino-PRT completed its 3 km pilot linking metro hubs to office parks. In Europe, the UK and Netherlands have over 8 km of test guideways under construction. More than 1,000 pods run daily worldwide. Lightweight pods reach 40 km/h and save over 40% energy compared to diesel minibuses. IoT upgrades and smart fleet software help cut idle times by about 25% per ride. PRT is increasingly bundled with smart city traffic networks. More than 15 university campuses worldwide are testing PRT pods for internal transport. These campus systems move over 50,000 students daily and cut shuttle bus fleets by about 40%. London Heathrow alone saves over 50% in CO₂ per trip compared to diesel shuttles. Demand for sustainable last-mile solutions has encouraged cities to plan an additional 100 km of guideways by 2030. Innovations like automated platooning and dynamic routing help pods handle up to 30% more riders on the same guideway length. Smart parking and solar charging are also trending. Many city councils see PRT as an alternative to expanding metro lines. More than 25 cities have feasibility studies underway, focusing on downtown connectors and residential hubs. Pilot pods showed travel time savings of 30% compared to buses. Vehicle makers now test modular pods with swappable interiors for group rides or cargo. Early results show 10% higher usage in mixed urban corridors. Over 100 next-generation pods launched in 2023 feature improved batteries, upgraded obstacle detection, and lighter carbon fiber bodies. Airport PRT corridors alone aim to serve 5 million passengers yearly by 2025.

Personal Rapid Transit Market Dynamics

The PRT market’s momentum comes from cities struggling with congestion and emissions. More than 50 km of guideways carry over 100 million people annually. Average pods hold 2–6 people and cruise at 40 km/h. South Korea added 5 km in 2023 and India tested 3 km of track in Delhi’s business zone. Europe’s test corridors total 8 km, aiming to shift 100,000 daily riders from cars to pods by 2030. Pods reduce local air pollution by 90% over diesel buses. Smart docking cuts average wait time to under 3 minutes.

DRIVER

Rising demand for last-mile urban solutions.

Global cities welcome about 70 million new residents yearly, adding huge pressure on roads and transit. More than 25 cities aim to move at least 1 million daily commuters with PRT by 2030. One pod can take 3–4 cars off the road per short trip. Real-world data shows Heathrow’s pods cut carbon output by about 50% compared to diesel. Smart fleet tools now keep pods running 98% of daily hours. Battery pods average 0.3 kWh per passenger kilometer — half what a standard bus uses.

RESTRAINT

High upfront capital costs and planning delays.

Building 1 km of elevated guideway costs $8–15 million, depending on terrain and zoning. In 2023, five city PRT projects were delayed 12–18 months over zoning conflicts or permit issues. Urban planning codes often lag behind autonomous vehicle standards. Some regions require costly custom safety checks for pods. Funding for guideways often relies on local grants covering up to 50% of the build cost if daily ridership projections exceed 5,000. Planners say the break-even point usually requires 10,000 daily trips to justify upfront investment.

OPPORTUNITY

Strong growth in airports and campuses.

Five major airports are adding PRT guideways by 2025, totaling 20 km for over 5 million passengers annually. Heathrow’s system alone runs 2 million rides per year on 3.8 km of track. Over 15 universities now use or test pods, serving more than 50,000 students daily while shrinking diesel shuttle fleets by 40%. Smart city corridors with mixed traffic flows will drive hybrid pod solutions for both passengers and light cargo. Investors see airports, campuses, and large event venues as promising expansions for new pods.

CHALLENGE

Regulatory and integration barriers.

PRT approvals often stall on safety standards and integration with local roads and rail. In 2023, South Korea’s biggest pilot faced a six-month delay to certify its new collision-avoidance sensors. Pods must comply with road-use laws that rarely cover fully autonomous elevated vehicles. Some city zones ban overhead guideways above historic streets, adding design conflicts. Cities must align PRT with urban zoning, metro lines, bus lanes, and shared bike corridors. New pods need to prove crash safety and emergency evacuation readiness before full launch.

Personal Rapid Transit Market Segmentation

The PRT market is segmented mainly by vehicle type and application. Every PRT system in operation today uses automated electric vehicles, totaling over 1,000 pods worldwide. Each pod seats 2–6 passengers, moves at speeds up to 40 km/h, and uses only 0.3 kWh per passenger kilometer. Elevated guideways are the standard for almost all systems, with more than 50 km of dedicated track in 2023. These guideways lift pods above congested streets, reducing delays by up to 30% compared to road buses. New PRT systems rarely use ground-level routes due to traffic integration barriers.

By Type

Automated Electric Vehicles: Automated electric vehicles account for the entire active PRT fleet — more than 1,000 pods transport millions of people each year. Heathrow alone operates 21 pods, moving 2 million passengers yearly. VECTUS in South Korea uses more than 40 pods on 5 km of track. Each pod includes advanced battery packs with ranges over 60 km per charge. Average energy consumption is about 0.3 kWh per passenger kilometer, saving 40% energy compared to diesel buses. Lightweight composite bodies and regenerative braking add efficiency. New pods in India’s Metrino system tested larger 6-seat cabins in 2023.
Elevated Guideways: Elevated guideways remain the preferred infrastructure for PRT because they bypass street congestion and enable non-stop pod service. In 2023, more than 10 km of new elevated tracks opened in Asia-Pacific, expanding total global length to over 50 km. Average construction cost is $8–15 million per kilometer, depending on city layout. New concrete or steel tracks can be installed in sections, cutting project time by 20%. Elevated PRT reduces land conflicts with pedestrians and existing bus lanes. More than 80% of new pilots now include prefabricated elevated sections to minimize urban disruption.

By Application

Urban Transportation: Urban transportation is the biggest application, with over 70% of installed PRT tracks serving city cores. More than 12 city centers worldwide run or plan PRT routes, aiming to handle daily ridership of over 500,000 commuters by 2030. Pilot data shows pods reduce travel time by up to 30% on short downtown routes. Cities like Seoul and New Delhi are connecting business hubs with metro stations using 2–5 km pilot guideways. Real-world usage proves pods can replace thousands of short car trips, easing city gridlock during peak hours.
Airport Shuttles: Airport shuttles make up about 20% of today’s PRT market. London Heathrow remains the flagship, running 21 pods on a 3.8 km guideway that moves more than 2 million passengers every year. Five more airports worldwide are finalizing PRT corridors by 2025, adding around 20 km of new track to serve another 5 million annual passengers. Airport pods link parking, terminals, and rental car zones faster than diesel buses. Smart docking reduces waiting to under 3 minutes. New battery upgrades ensure continuous operations for 20+ hours daily.
Campus Mobility: Campus mobility is a fast-growing PRT niche. More than 15 universities use or test pod cars, moving over 50,000 students daily between dorms, lecture halls, and parking lots. Pilot data shows campuses with PRT cut diesel shuttle fleets by 40% and reduce parking needs by 20%. Average campus guideway length ranges from 1 km to 5 km, with daily pod trips lasting under 5 minutes. Solar charging stations now power up to 30% of campus pods, cutting grid electricity costs. Universities see PRT as a safe, clean upgrade for internal transit.

Regional Outlook for the Personal Rapid Transit Market

Regional performance shows Asia-Pacific leading with aggressive new track builds, Europe and the UK expanding tests, North America exploring pilots, and the Middle East investing in smart city links. Combined, these regions will add more than 100 km of PRT guideways by 2030, handling millions of trips yearly.

North America

North America’s PRT development is mostly in private campuses and airport trials. US airports and business parks together move about 2 million pod passengers annually. Feasibility studies cover more than 5 km of new pilot tracks in California, Texas, and Canada. University campuses in the US are adding short 1–2 km pods to replace diesel shuttles, moving up to 10,000 students daily. Local city councils see PRT as an alternative where metro expansion is too costly. Smart city grants may unlock more urban pilots by 2025.

Europe

Europe is second only to Asia-Pacific in PRT growth. Heathrow remains the biggest with 3.8 km of pods, moving 2 million passengers yearly. The UK has three new urban test corridors totaling over 5 km under development. The Netherlands is building a 2 km PRT track aimed at moving 10,000 daily city riders. European planners expect PRT to serve over 100,000 daily city commuters by 2030. Airports in the UK and Germany plan pilot pods for parking and terminal shuttles, adding another 5 km by 2025. Sustainability goals drive adoption.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific leads global PRT installations with over 10 km of new guideway built in 2023 alone. South Korea’s VECTUS system added 5 km and now carries 10,000 daily riders. India’s Metrino-PRT tested 3 km in Delhi, aiming to expand to 10 km and move 50,000 daily commuters. China has three pilot corridors linking high-density zones to metro lines. Asia-Pacific’s total daily ridership could top 500,000 by 2030. Regional smart city plans bundle PRT with IoT traffic controls and green energy charging. Investments remain strongest here.

Middle East & Africa

The Middle East is adding PRT systems to airports and new city zones. Dubai’s smart city plan includes a 5 km pilot corridor set to carry 20,000 daily commuters. Saudi Arabia’s smart city developers plan pods for car-free districts. Johannesburg in South Africa has tested 2 km loops linking rail stations with downtown business parks, moving 5,000 daily riders. Overall, the region’s PRT guideways may top 10 km by 2025. Zero-emission transport targets and urban master plans help drive local interest in PRT.

List of Top Personal Rapid Transit Companies

VECTUS (South Korea)
Pininfarina (Italy)
Lloyd's Register (UK)
Noventus (Australia)
WGH (UK)
TDi (UK)
Ultra Global PRT (UK)
2getthere (Netherlands)
Metrino-PRT (India)
ModuTram (Mexico)

VECTUS: VECTUS operates over 5 km of guideway in South Korea and moves more than 10,000 daily passengers. In 2023, VECTUS added 2 km of new track and deployed 20 upgraded pods with better battery range and obstacle detection.

Ultra Global PRT: Ultra Global PRT runs the world’s busiest PRT at London Heathrow. Its 21 pods cover a 3.8 km track and handle over 2 million rides each year. In 2023, Ultra upgraded docking software, cutting wait times by 60%.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Global PRT investment passed $200 million in 2023, funding more than 10 km of new tracks and over 100 new pods. Asia-Pacific accounts for about 60% of this spend, with South Korea, India, and China leading the way. The UK and Europe added 8 km of pilot track with help from smart city grants. Airport expansions alone could serve 5 million extra passengers yearly, driving more funding. Universities are a hotspot for new investment, with over 15 campuses adding or expanding PRT. Together, these campuses serve 50,000 students daily and cut diesel shuttle costs by about 40%. Private operators and city councils fund 50% of new pilots when daily ridership projections top 5,000. Electric vehicle tech is getting major upgrades. Over 40% of pods delivered in 2023 used advanced battery packs with 20% longer range and 30% faster charging. Solar charging pilot stations cut grid use by up to 30%. Modular pods with swappable cabins for cargo or passengers launched in 2023. Future opportunities include large event venues and mega malls. Five major sports arenas have PRT feasibility studies underway to handle short-range fan shuttles for 20,000 people per event. New funding covers both elevated guideways and real-time fleet software that lowers maintenance costs by 25%.

New Product Development

More than 100 next-gen pods launched globally in 2023 with lighter carbon fiber builds, upgraded sensors, and better batteries. VECTUS added 20 smart pods with faster obstacle detection. Metrino-PRT tested bigger pods with 6 seats to boost capacity by 20%. Ultra Global PRT upgraded its Heathrow pods with smart docking that cut average wait times from 5 minutes to under 2 minutes. Modular design is gaining traction: 2getthere in the Netherlands tested swappable cabin pods for passengers or light cargo. Early tests show 10% more efficient use. Solar power is being built into new guideways and stations. One Asian university installed a 1 km pod track fully powered by rooftop solar, saving thousands in energy costs. Battery packs now handle 20+ hours of daily operation. Lightweight builds reduce energy use by about 10%. Smart software is standard: 70% of new pods come with booking apps and IoT fleet tracking. Some makers are piloting platooning pods that travel in packs, boosting capacity 15%. New pods feature crash sensors and smart brakes for safer urban operation. By 2025, over 200 upgraded pods will be live.

Five Recent Developments

VECTUS launched 2 km of new track in South Korea, boosting daily capacity by 5,000 riders.
Ultra Global PRT upgraded Heathrow pods with smart docking, cutting wait times by 60%.
Metrino-PRT tested its 3 km Delhi pilot, linking metro hubs to business districts.
2getthere revealed a modular pod prototype with swappable cabins and higher capacity.
Dubai Airport confirmed a 5 km PRT corridor plan to carry 20,000 daily passengers.

Report Coverage of Personal Rapid Transit Market

This report tracks the entire active PRT footprint, covering 50 km of operational guideways and more than 1,000 pods moving 100 million people yearly. Airport shuttle pods make up about 20% of daily trips, with Heathrow’s 2 million rides showing real-world success.Asia-Pacific is leading growth, adding 10 km in 2023 alone. South Korea and India test pilot pods carrying 10,000–50,000 daily riders. Europe added 8 km of pilot routes in the UK and Netherlands, aiming for 100,000 daily city riders by 2030. Segments include urban transport (70% of active guideways), airports (20%), and campus mobility (10%). Over 25 cities are at feasibility or pilot stages for new pods and tracks. New pods use about 0.3 kWh per km, half that of a diesel minibus. Key players like VECTUS and Ultra Global PRT hold the highest share, operating flagship systems with real ridership. Investments in battery tech, solar charging, smart fleet tracking, and modular cabins drive next-gen designs. Over 100 upgraded pods went live in 2023, confirming steady growth.