Ultra Global PRT

What Ultra Global PRT does

Ultra Global PRT is a UK-based private engineering company founded in 1995 by Professor Martin Lowson as a spin-off from Bristol University research. The company designs and develops Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) systems consisting of small, battery-powered, driverless electric pods (carrying 4-6 passengers) running on dedicated elevated guideways, with a central computer distributing vehicles based on station demand to provide on-demand, non-stop transportation. Its flagship commercial deployment is the Heathrow Terminal 5 PRT system, operational since May 2011, connecting the Business Car Park to Terminal 5 via 3.8km of guideway with 21 vehicles and 3 stations, having logged over one million driverless miles with 99%+ service reliability. The technology is certified to ISO 9001:2008 standards and designed for airports, urban transit hubs, and business campuses.

The company's revenue model combines technology licensing of the complete PRT package (vehicles, guideways, stations, control systems), long-term operations and maintenance agreements under managed service contracts, and professional services through feasibility studies and consulting. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the Heathrow deployment cost £30 million over six years, and a planned Mumbai Bandra-Kurla Complex project was valued at approximately Rs 1,017 crore (~£97 million). Market expansion has been pursued through a 2010 joint venture with Fairwood (Ultra Fairwood) targeting Asia via Build-Own-Operate-Transfer structures, a 2013 feasibility study with China Engineering Consultants Inc in Taiwan, and a March 2026 manufacturing contract with Aurrigo International (£6.28 million) for 25 autonomous guided vehicles.

The company serves three primary verticals: airports (its lead vertical anchored by Heathrow), urban cities (pursued in India and Taiwan), and business parks/campuses. Notable commercial setbacks include the stalled Amritsar project (awarded 2011, never constructed to operational status) and Ultra's exit from the Mumbai pod taxi project in July 2024, with Netherlands-based 2getthere subsequently replacing it as technology partner through concessionaire Sai Green Mobility. Following founder Martin Lowson's death in June 2013, Managing Director Fraser Brown leads the company, which remains privately held with 11-50 employees and limited disclosed revenue beyond the Heathrow operating contract.

Name

Ultra Global PRT

Legal name

Ultra Global Limited

Website

https://ultraglobalprt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ultra Global PRT is a UK-based private engineering company founded in 1995 that designs and licenses Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) systems consisting of driverless electric pods on dedicated guideways, primarily serving airports, urban transit authorities, and business campus operators worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. PRT System Technology Licensing: Ultra licenses its PRT technology to airport operators, governments, and private developers for implementation of pod transit systems. The company provides the complete technology package including vehicles, guideways, stations, and control systems.
2. System Operations and Maintenance: Ongoing operational support and maintenance services for deployed PRT systems, typically under long-term service agreements with system operators.
3. Feasibility Studies and Consulting: Planning and design studies for potential PRT deployments, such as the Taiwan feasibility study with CECI and the Amritsar project development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ultra Global PRT designs, develops, and licenses Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) systems consisting of small driverless battery-powered electric vehicles operating on dedicated elevated guideways. The company delivers complete PRT technology packages including the Ultra Pod vehicles, lightweight guideways, automated stations, and central control systems, complemented by ongoing operations, maintenance, and feasibility consulting for airport, urban, and campus deployments.

Product overview

Ultra Global PRT offers the Ultra Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) System, a modular autonomous transit solution consisting of the Ultra Pod vehicles (small driverless electric vehicles), guideway infrastructure, and station systems. The core product is the PRT system which provides on-demand, non-stop transportation where individual pods carry passengers directly to their destination without stops or transfers. The company's flagship operational deployment is the Heathrow T5 system. The company is also pursuing multiple international deployments including planned systems in Amritsar, India and Mumbai, India, while manufacturing autonomous guided vehicles through partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ultra PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) System A complete Personal Rapid Transit system comprising small, lightweight, driverless electric vehicles operating on dedicated elevated guideways, providing on-demand, non-stop transportation to passengers via a central computer control system. The system is licensed to airport operators, city governments, and transit authorities as a turnkey automated transit solution.
• Ultra Pod The individual vehicle component of the Ultra PRT system, a small, battery-powered, driverless electric vehicle designed to carry 4-6 passengers in privacy and comfort. Each pod operates autonomously on the guideway network, recharging at stations when not in use.
• PRT Infrastructure (Guideways and Stations) The physical infrastructure components of the PRT system including elevated guideways (4 m width for double track, 1.8 m height clearance), stations with battery recharging, and control systems. The lightweight infrastructure requires minimal land take and can be installed over or alongside existing roads, rail tracks, and buildings.
• Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGV) Autonomous guided vehicles manufactured under contract with Aurrigo International for airport and passenger transit settings. The £6.28 million contract involves 25 vehicles featuring lithium-ion battery upgrades, advanced sensor technologies, and HVAC systems, for deployment in UK airports and customer demonstrations internationally.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 99% service availability and reliability since implementation
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and supporting.

• Aurrigo InternationalcoreTechnology or Integration · 9 March 2026Aurrigo International signed a £6.28 million contract with Ultra Global to manufacture and modernize 25 autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) for airport and passenger transit applications. The agreement includes engineering development, lithium-ion battery upgrades, advanced sensor technologies, and HVAC systems, with completion expected by September 2027. This represents the largest vehicle manufacturing order in Aurrigo's history and supports Ultra Global's platform modernization.
• China Engineering Consultants Inc (CECI)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2013Ultra Global signed a contract with CECI to carry out a feasibility study into the deployment of Personal Rapid Transit within Taiwan. The high-level planning and design project aims to increase awareness and understanding of PRT with decision makers, stakeholders, and public, with specific exploration for implementation in New Taipei City. The project ran until August 2014 and drew on Sinclair Knight-Merz (SKM) expertise.
• FairwoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2011Ultra Fairwood is a collaboration between Ultra and Fairwood created in 2010 to bring Ultra PRT technology to Asia. The partnership conceives, designs, finances, constructs, and operates complete PRT solutions, typically on a BOOT (Build, Own, Operate, Transfer) basis. Awarded the world's first urban PRT system contract in Amritsar, India, serving the Golden Temple pilgrimage route.
• ArupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerArup has conducted multiple technical and economic feasibility studies for PRT systems, including studies for Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3, San Jose Airport, and other potential deployments. Arup provides engineering consulting and alignment studies supporting Ultra's expansion efforts.
• Sinclair Knight-Merz (SKM)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firm providing expertise to the Taiwan feasibility study alongside Ultra and CECI, adding value to the planning and design project.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• 2getthere: 2getthere is a Netherlands-based developer of automated people movers and PRT systems using driverless electric vehicles on dedicated guideways. Directly comparable to Ultra Global as demonstrated by 2getthere replacing Ultra Global in the Mumbai pod taxi project in 2025.
• Aurrigo International: Aurrigo International is a UK-based autonomous vehicle manufacturer that has a £6.28M contract with Ultra Global to manufacture 25 AGVs. Aurrigo also develops its own autonomous transit solutions for airports and passenger transport, making it a direct peer in autonomous passenger mobility.
• Vectus PRT: Vectus PRT is a South Korea-based developer of personal rapid transit systems using similar pod-on-guideway technology. Direct competitor in the PRT space with comparable technology approach and target markets.

Emerging players

• EasyMile: EasyMile is a France-based provider of autonomous shuttles and people movers for airports, campuses, and urban transit. Although typically higher-capacity vehicles than PRT pods, they target similar last-mile transit use cases at airports and urban centers.
• Navya: Navya is a France-based autonomous mobility company producing self-driving shuttles for first/last-mile transit. Competes with Ultra Global in the autonomous passenger transit market, particularly for airport and urban applications.
• SkyTran: SkyTran is a US-based developer of maglev-based personal rapid transit systems using pods on elevated guideways. Closely comparable technology concept (PRT pods on guideways) targeting similar last-mile transit use cases.
• Beep: Beep is a US-based autonomous mobility services provider operating autonomous shuttles primarily at airports, campuses, and communities. Targets similar airport and campus transit use cases as Ultra Global's PRT with shared-ride autonomous vehicles.

Broad incumbents

• Siemens Mobility: Siemens Mobility is a global provider of automated people movers, light rail, and transit systems including the VAL and Cityval systems. A broad incumbent in the same automated transit category as Ultra Global's PRT but with a much larger portfolio and existing airport references.
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries produces the Crystal Mover automated people mover system used at airports worldwide. Broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities in automated airport transit though serving different vehicle classes from Ultra Global's pods.
• Alstom: Alstom (formerly Bombardier Transportation) is a global rail and transit equipment manufacturer producing automated people movers and light rail systems. Competes in the broader urban transit space where Ultra Global markets its PRT solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ultraglobalprt

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ultra Global PRT