IRU and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) have signed a new MoU, refuelling their long-standing commitment to sustainable transport, road safety and cross-border mobility.
IRU and FIA have signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen their collaboration and align efforts towards advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Other key areas of focus include enhancing capacity-building, addressing skilled labour shortages, and promoting data-driven decision-making in the road transport sector.
By joining forces, IRU and FIA have the reach to impact over 80 million road users and more than 3.5 million companies operating mobility and logistics services worldwide, giving this collaboration unprecedented potential to transform road transport on a global scale.
IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto said, “Road transport, the backbone of global mobility and trade, underpins every UN Sustainable Development Goal. Together with the FIA, we are taking pragmatic action on sustainability, road safety and skills development, key areas that will shape the future of transport and mobility for millions worldwide. I am confident that the synergy of this partnership will make one plus one equal three!”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said, "I am proud to sign such a meaningful agreement for the FIA and its Members. The IRU and the FIA share the common ambition to create a safer, more sustainable and accessible mobility future for road users. By working together, we can foster a global movement towards reaching that goal and changing our roads for good.”
The MoU builds on the two organisations’ long-standing collaboration, which was most recently demonstrated through the eco-driving awareness training jointly hosted for 5,000 bus and taxi drivers at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The training helped drivers improve their understanding of safe and sustainable practices at the wheel. They were then able to apply these learnings to reduce their environmental impact using the FIA Smart Driving Challenge app throughout COP29. The training significantly reduced fuel consumption, with the top performer cutting emissions by 32%.
Both organisations intend to continue training road users in 2025. As part of the MoU, the action plan for next year also involves close collaboration to promote the harmonisation of road safety standards, include the voice of road users in shaping the Implementation Plan of the UN Decade for Sustainable Transport, address issues in the second-hand vehicle market, and advocate for modern transnational road transport tools to enhance the transparency, security and facilitation of cross-border operations.
The MoU was signed during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship.