20 April 2026 Federal Minister Peter Hanke: "Mobility is a question of justice – not of ideological conflicts"

Hanke outlines his transport policy at the 2026 Mobility Conference. Climate Ticket campaign and reduced ÖBB charging tariff strengthen public transport and e-mobility.

Hanke: "Nobody needs to be ashamed of depending on a car!"

As part of the 2026 Mobility Conference in Vienna, Mobility Minister Peter Hanke today delivered his keynote speech on the future of mobility in Austria. At the heart of his remarks was a clear political aspiration: to secure mobility as a basic need, to bridge ideological divides and to implement practical, everyday solutions. 

Politics must tackle issues rather than just discuss them: "I don't want to explain how bad everything is – I want to tackle it so it gets better." At the centre of Hanke's vision is a total system: "Mobility only works well when we think across transport modes." His guiding principle is: "Communicate – Coordinate – Cooperate."

Mobility requires no ideological blinders

Mobility is far more than transport, the minister clarified:

"We are talking about a basic need. We are talking about a social question. We are talking about participation in life." Functioning mobility is "the social backbone of our society" and directly determines quality of life and opportunities. In doing so, Hanke rejected ideological debates: "Car versus bicycle. City versus countryside. Train versus plane – this is the wrong way." Instead, we need politics that are oriented towards reality: "People want solutions that work in everyday life." The minister also sent a clear message to drivers: "In Austria, nobody needs to be ashamed of relying on a car."

Investments as a response to the crisis - climate protection through innovation

Despite budgetary challenges, the federal government is focusing on targeted investments.

"We invest our way out of the crisis," said Hanke. Infrastructure is "the lifeline of our location" and the foundation for growth and employment. Investments in rail, road, public transport, e-charging infrastructure, digitalisation and traffic safety are meant to noticeably improve the quality of mobility. "People have a right that their mobility is constantly developed further."

Mobility technologies were already defined as a strength area for Austria in the Industry Strategy 2035. The Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure has been the largest investor in these important future technologies for decades, playing an essential role in sustainable mobility. For instance, the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) contributes to the testing and development of E-buses.

Hanke made a clear commitment to climate neutrality – with a pragmatic approach: "A genuine mobility shift does not arise through wagging fingers but through better offers." Climate protection is "not a programme of renunciation but a programme of innovation." 

The switch to e-mobility, the expansion of public transport, sustainable fuels in road and air transport as well as intelligent traffic control systems are the focus.

Two-month Climate Ticket introductory campaign invites people to switch

With a limited introductory campaign, Mobility Minister Peter Hanke facilitates the switch to public transport as a reaction to fuel price developments. Anyone who buys a ticket valid between 1 May and 30 June can test the KlimaTicket Österreich for two months and then cancel for free.

"We create the opportunity to try out the bus and train offer without committing long-term," said Hanke. The aim is to overcome existing barriers: "We are making a contribution to reducing barriers to public transport and providing an easy way to test the benefits of the annual subscription in everyday life. Public transport is an attractive and affordable alternative."

E-mobility: ÖBB lowers in-house charging tariff from 1 May for six months

In terms of linking individual transport and rail, Mobility Minister Peter Hanke is implementing concrete measures together with the ÖBB.

"The future of mobility is often decided before the actual journey – namely by the question of how to get to the station."

Therefore, the charging infrastructure at park-and-ride facilities will be significantly expanded: 100 additional charging points will be created by 2027, 400 by 2030.

At the same time, charging for holders of ÖBB charging cards will be considerably cheaper from 1 May: for six months, ÖBB will reduce the tariff at their charging stations by 11 cents per kilowatt hour to around 30 cents. 

"Charging should feel like at home – simple, understandable and fair," said Hanke. The measure strengthens e-mobility in particular and is part of a holistic approach: "We connect transport modes instead of playing them against each other - and create concrete improvements in everyday life."