Paola Tapia Salas, Director of Metropolitan Public Transportation
Sustainable mobility is not a technological luxury: it is a right that allows us all to live in better cities. And Santiago is already several steps ahead.
December 10 marks the launch of the First United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035), a call to accelerate the transition to more sustainable, safe, inclusive, and resilient mobility systems. And although this is a global horizon, Santiago enters this decade with a solid track record that positions us as the city with the most electric buses in the world after Chinese cities.
This leadership is the result of a sustained government policy that has been in place for more than eight years, driven by a long-term strategy that combined clear goals, regulatory adjustments, and stable financing through public transportation subsidies.
Today, the capital operates 3,700 zero-emission electric buses, fully integrated into the network. This widespread adoption is also possible because, between 2020 and 2025, the cost of electric buses fell by almost half, reaching prices close to those of diesel buses. Added to this is more efficient operation: electric buses are 66% cheaper to operate per kilometer traveled and 44% cheaper to maintain. The combination of government policy, scale, and cost reduction consolidates a model that is already competitive, sustainable, and replicable by other countries.
The impact of this transformation is also reflected in the daily experience of those who use public transport on a daily basis. The Personal Electromobility Study of Driving and Users conducted in 2025 by IPSOS revealed that 87% of those surveyed consider the presence of electric buses in the city to be beneficial. Among the most notable attributes are better air quality (85%), less urban noise (72%), and a greater sense of modernity (66%). This assessment reinforces that it is not only about innovation, but also about quality of life and urban well-being.
Chile's progress in electromobility has been complemented by a leading role on the international stage. At COP30, Chile promoted the first sectoral transport declaration signed by 11 countries, reaffirming that the decarbonization of transport is a priority and that our experience offers a concrete model for moving forward.
This entire process has also incorporated a key dimension: inclusion and gender equality. The drive to increase the participation of female drivers has led to a 145% increase in the last four years, reaching 2,323 female drivers in the system. This historic advance opens doors to female employment, professionalization of the industry, and diversification of a historically male-dominated sector.
The challenge ahead is not to backtrack, but to consolidate progress and deepen this policy so that the long-term benefits, including operational, environmental, and social savings, are felt throughout the country. Because sustainable mobility is not a technological luxury: it is a right that allows us all to live in better cities. And Santiago is already several steps ahead.
