New York-based transport technology firm Via has acquired Citymapper, a UK journey planning app and transit company.

On the heels of Via’s recent financing round, the Citymapper acquisition accelerates Via’s vision to build the end-to-end digital infrastructure for transit systems. While Via’s software enables cities and transit agencies to plan and operate their public transit networks, Citymapper empowers transit riders with the ability to navigate the urban transport network through intuitive apps.

By integrating Citymapper into its platform, Via hopes to connect all elements of a transit system, offering a unified option for cities, transit agencies and riders.

Founded in 2012, Citymapper has built a product with a loyal and engaged user base across the world. More than 50 million users in over 100 cities have used Citymapper to plan their journeys, using a combination of public transit, walking, cycling, scooters, taxis and other locally available options. Users can plan a trip based on criteria – such as transit mode, arrival time, trip duration, cost and so on – that matter most to them, and Citymapper’s app will help them select the best option and navigate their travel in real time.

Citymapper’s technology and algorithms, which incorporate real-time public transit data and take into account information on disruptions and delays, improve the journey-planning experience with accurate and timely recommendations.

The Citymapper product will be integrated into Via’s TransitTech platform. Cities and transit agencies will have access to Via’s software platform, which enables them to plan transit networks that are responsive and resilient to rapidly changing needs, to operate smart multi-modal transportation systems, and to use data to enhance performance continually, now unified with an optimised experience for riders from Citymapper.

Following the acquisition, the Citymapper app will continue to be available to its worldwide user base, and Via anticipates it will further expand Citymapper’s global reach.

“The team at Citymapper has spent a decade building some of the greatest technology in urban mobility, with the mission to make cities easier to navigate and urban transportation more efficient, sustainable and accessible,” said Citymapper CEO Azmat Yusuf. “We share this vision with Via and, through this acquisition, can expand Citymapper to a larger audience, make our technology available to cities and transit agencies, and extend the positive impact on the communities we serve.”

Via CEO Daniel Ramot added: “We have the utmost respect for the world-class product and user experience that Azmat and his team have built. By bringing our teams together, we see an exciting opportunity to deliver Citymapper’s capabilities to cities and transit agencies all over the world, so that they can create the most user-friendly and relevant transit experience for their communities.”

Via’s acquisition of Citymapper follows its acquisitions of Remix in 2021 and Fleetonomy in 2020. These acquisitions come at a time of strong momentum in the transit technology industry, with technology and innovation paving the way for smart and flexible transportation.

Founded in 2012, Via uses technologies to develop public mobility systems, optimising networks of buses, shuttles, wheelchair accessible vehicles, school buses, autonomous vehicles and electric vehicles around the globe. Via works with its partners to lower the costs of public transit while providing transportation options that rival the convenience of a personal car and reducing the environmental impact. It provides technology in 600 communities and more than 35 countries.