What makes a city truly competitive? Is it the latest tech, or something more fundamental?

In this episode of Everything Is Changing, POLIS Secretary General Karen Vancluysen joins journalist Ahmetcan Uzlaşık to cut through the hype surrounding automation, robotaxis, and electric vehicles. They reveal why simply switching to electric cars won’t fix Europe’s mobility crisis and discuss the urgent need to reallocate space from private vehicles to people.

From chronic congestion and transport strikes to the future of industrial policy, this conversation explores how Europe’s cities are shaping a competitive, green, and people-first future. Discover why true progress lies in high-capacity public transport and bold political leadership rather than automating private ownership.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction

03:35 – The Economic Cost of Unsustainable Transport

06:04 – Cities as Market Shapers, Not Just Policy Implementers

09:12 – Automation: Sustainability Solution or Hype?

10:49 – Europe’s Path: Public Transport vs. Private Robotaxis

13:30 – The Power of Cities to Regulate Urban Space

16:34 – Geopolitics, Critical Minerals, and Mobility Sovereignty

18:49 – What Truly Transforms Urban Mobility? (Space Reallocation)

23:23 – The Political Challenge: The Need for Bold Decisions

26:10 – Winning Hearts and Minds Through Pilot Projects