5 minutes with... José C. Azcárate, President ITS Mexico

Intertraffic: Can you introduct yourself?

JA: I am José Azcárate, a mobility professional with over 25 years of experience. For the last 18 years, I have had the privilege of serving as the president of the Society of Intelligent Transportation Systems in Mexico. Recently, I was appointed president of the Mexican Association of Transportation Engineering (AMIT), an organization founded over 40 years ago by some of the most prominent thought leaders in the field.

Since the inception of Intertraffic in Mexico, I have been an active member of the advisory board, which has provided me with invaluable experiences and a deep sense of fulfillment. This role has allowed me to witness first-hand the evolution of transportation in Mexico and Latin America, as well as the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Intertraffic: What Are the Major Challenges Facing Mobility in Latin America?

JA: The most significant challenge I have encountered in the Latin American mobility sector has many facets. One of the key issues is the professionalization of transportation services, both for the movement of people and goods. Historically, transportation services have been underdeveloped, and this gap needs to be closed if we are to advance as a region.

Another critical aspect is the technology developed for transport infrastructure. Support from public administrations and development agencies has often been delayed or insufficient. For a long time, there was a belief that mobility technologies were “expensive toys for rich countries,” which substantially hindered progress. It took considerable effort to prove something I have long argued: the most significant cost a society faces in terms of mobility technologies is the cost of not implementing them.

A third, and perhaps most enduring, challenge is how to steer mobility in a direction that prioritizes both safety and sustainability. This is an issue that has persisted over the years and continues to consume much of our effort. The question remains: How can we make mobility both safe and sustainable?

Intertraffic: How Did You Begin Your Journey in the Mobility Sector?

JA: My entry into the mobility sector has an exciting history. By academic training, I am a systems engineer. During the early years of my career, I was involved in transforming and automating numerous companies across various industries. From metallurgy to the lithographic industry, chemicals, and marketing, I gained a broad range of experiences.

However, no industry captured my imagination and interest quite like transport and mobility. Its complexity, and its significant impact on society, had an almost addictive quality. Many professionals in the field share this sentiment.

I began by advising and systematizing freight transport companies, both on national routes and in urban distribution logistics. My full immersion into the sector came when I took on the responsibility of managing the Mexican operations of a technology development company specializing in mobility across Latin America. This role gave me the opportunity to establish relationships with leading companies in global logistics, urban mobility, and public transport, all of which provided me with invaluable experiences. I learned from the successes but perhaps even more from the failures, which were crucial in shaping my understanding of what works and what doesn’t.

Intertraffic: What Does the Future Hold for Mobility in Latin America?

JA: I firmly believe that the future of the mobility sector, both in Latin America and globally, is one of the most clearly defined for any human activity.

The challenges ahead will not be few. The goal is to achieve sustainable, safe, efficient, and high-quality mobility for both people and goods, a form of mobility that harmonizes with the development of societies worldwide. It is essential that mobility is affordable, without compromising the health of the population, and that it becomes an intrinsic part of life.

In Latin America, the future of mobility may look somewhat different from that in more industrialized regions. While trends in developed countries lean towards autonomous driving and zero-emission transport, Latin America has a unique advantage: the urgent need to transition to better mobility models. Despite economic limitations, this creates a tremendous capacity for resilience and innovation. The region is poised to adopt global best practices and shape them into solutions tailored to our needs.

I am genuinely excited about the immediate future of mobility in Latin America and I look forward to continuing to contribute to its development. The challenges we face are significant, but they are also opportunities to transform how we move and how our societies function.