MaaS Global’s announcement of closure casts a shade upon the MaaS community today, yet we view it as a catalyst for a renewed beginning, fostering stronger and more resilient solutions in the future. 

We need frontrunners and innovators that try to improve and change a complex industry such as the mobility sector. This is a laborious task that requires strong leadership and the courage of becoming an ambassador of improvements. Sampo Hietanen took this role.  

Sampo paved the way, provided us with all with the possibilities and insights of the concept of MaaS. Sampo started off the concept of MaaS by providing the possibilities that Mobility as a Service could deliver.  Without these lessons, we would not be in the position where we are today.  MaaS has become an integral part of any journey: from planning to booking to payment, continuous enhancements have been made. This integration is ingrained in the daily lives of individuals, with the promise of further improvement and impact. 

Unfortunately, the learning curve was steep for both the team at MaaS Global and Sampo himself. The B2C subscription model of shared mobility that Sampo advocated for so effectively and energetically turned out not to be commercially sustainable at the present time. However, it is important to note that the B2G and B2B models hold both social and financial sustainability. 

MaaS will continue to evolve towards the realisation of an “Open Mobility Ecosystem” in which we can support and influence all mobility modes for all people at all places at any time. It is a sad day for the MaaS community, and it is a hard-earned lesson for MaaS Global and Sampo. It also serves as a clear indication that B2C readiness is yet to be achieved. 

We will keep our commitment to improving the MaaS concept, inspired by Sampo’s vision, and we will continue building and creating an Open Mobility Ecosystem that impacts positively all users.