The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the International Road Transport Union (IRU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant step in the work they have been carrying together for years on road safety, sustainable transport and cross border mobility, including within the framework of the United Nations Inland Transport Committee.

The landmark agreement will allow the FIA and IRU to strengthen collaboration and joint efforts to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals in these three key areas. It will also focus on enhancing capacity-building, addressing skilled labour shortage in the road transport sector, and supporting data-based decision-making in the field of mobility.

By joining forces, the FIA and IRU have the reach to impact over 80 million road users worldwide, and more than 3.5 million companies operating mobility and logistics services in over 100 countries, giving this collaboration unprecedented potential to transform road mobility on a global scale.

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.”

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!”

The Memorandum builds on the two organisations’ long-standing collaboration, which was most recently demonstrated through the eco-driving awareness training they hosted together 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 the Conference fortnight.

Both organisations intend to continue training commercial 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 road users’ voice in the shaping of the Implementation Plan of the UN Decade for Sustainable Transport, address issues in the used vehicles market, and advocate for modernised transnational road transport tools. 

The MoU was signed at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend — the final race of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship.