A recent study commissioned by the Münchner Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund (Munich Transport and Tariff Association – MVV) highlights the enormous economic and social significance of local public transport in the Greater Munich area. The study, carried out by MCube Consulting, quantifies the value added by local public transport in the MVV area at an average of 5.7 billion euros per year. This means that the MVV accounts for just under 8% of the value added by public transport across Germany, even though the region makes up only 3.8% of the German population. Back in May 2025, MCube Consulting had already conducted and published a study on value creation in public transport across Germany on behalf of the DB initiative ‘Zukunft Nahverkehr’ (ZNV), highlighting costs of €25 billion and benefits of €75 billion as its key findings.
In this study, local public transport comprises road-based and rail-based local passenger transport.
Methodology
The analysis is based on a combination of primary and secondary data, in particular region-specific results from the Mobility in Germany survey (MiD 2023), official statistics from the Bavarian State Office for Statistics, and academic publications on external costs. Value added was calculated in three categories: direct and indirect sectoral value added (Category 1), value-added effects influenced by public transport in retail, tourism, property and commuter traffic (Category 2), and avoided external costs (Category 3). In addition, a regional breakdown at district level was carried out, along with a cost analysis, to derive a cost-benefit ratio.
Public transport as a key economic factor
The study highlights that public transport in the Greater Munich MVV area is not only an indispensable means of mobility but also a key economic factor. Commuter traffic, in particular, demonstrates above-average effects, underscoring the importance of public transport for labour market integration and the region’s economic performance. The retail, tourism and property sectors also benefit significantly from a well-developed public transport system.
Another focus of the study is on avoided external costs, such as environmental impact, road accidents and land use. According to the study, public transport in the MVV area saves around 668 million euros in social costs annually. Overall, this results in a high cost-benefit ratio of 1 : 3.6 – every euro invested generates approximately 3.6 times the economic benefit.
The findings are intended to illustrate that public transport in the MVV area is not only a sustainable mobility option but also a powerful economic driver. To secure this positive development in the long term, continuous investment in the infrastructure, quality and capacity of public transport is required. The study is intended to serve as a basis for political and economic decisions that can secure and further develop the future of public transport in the Munich metropolitan region.
MVV is growing
The Münchner Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund MVV has been growing steadily for several years: currently, 15 districts and three independent cities are members; in 2027, the district of Ostallgäu and the independent city of Kaufbeuren are set to join, followed in 2028 by the districts of Altötting and Traunstein. However, the long-discussed merger with the Augsburger Verkehrsverbund (AVV – Augsburg Transport Association) has been postponed – funding issues are the main blocking point here.
(Info: MVV/ MCube Consulting GmbH)
17.03.2026
