Since 2006, the Integrierte Verkehrsleitzentrale (Municipal Integrated Traffic Control Center, IVLZ) has been in charge of Stuttgart’s traffic control and management. It consolidates up-to-the-minute traffic information from local police, public transportion providers and other traffic-related municipal agencies to relieve congestion. For example, IVLZ provides real-time adjustments in car park routing systems, traffic light cycle times and rerouting.

IVLZ also addresses Stuttgart's growing need for mobility, despite having a topography that limits significant expansion of the existing infrastructure. To reduce air pollution, make the city more environmentally friendly and less noisy, city officials developed the action plan “Nachhaltig mobil in Stuttgart” (Sustainably mobile in Stuttgart). The plan identifies nine measures to tackle the problem, such as improving integrated traffic monitoring and management, establishing a universal payment system for all mobility services and strengthening their interconnectedness, increasing capacity and quality of public and emission-free transport, and engaging in demand-side management through public relations activities. Whether these measures will be sufficient to turn the Neckar basin green remains to be seen.

• Further reading: CLEW Dossier The Energiewende and German carmakers, CLEW factsheet "Dieselgate" - a timeline of Germany's car emissions fraud scandal, CLEW factsheet Diesel driving bans in Germany – The Q&A
• CLEW reserach tour: Climate, clean air and digital age: Shifting gears in car country?
• Date of publication: March 2017