Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis

Transportation Research & Policy Servicesits.ucdavis.edu

ITS-Davis is a public university research and education institute at UC Davis conducting interdisciplinary research, graduate education, and policy advisory work on sustainable transportation, operating 17+ research centers and serving government agencies, industry, and students globally.

Company typePublic
Founded1988
HeadquartersDavis, United States
Headcount101–250
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis does

The Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis (ITS-Davis) is a public university research and education center founded in 1988 and headquartered at 1605 Tilia Street in Davis, California. It is positioned as a leading university center for sustainable transportation, with 80+ affiliated faculty and researchers spanning 12 academic departments, 120+ graduate students in the Transportation Technology and Policy Graduate Group, and 17 specialized research centers and initiatives covering electric vehicles, automated and shared mobility, freight, road ecology, transit, bicycling, energy futures, and land use.

The institute's core products and platforms are organized around three layers: (1) interdisciplinary graduate education (M.S. and Ph.D. tracks in Vehicles and Fuels, Demand and Behavior, and Infrastructure and Operations, plus the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship); (2) research output delivered through 17 centers and programs such as the National Center for Sustainable Transportation (administered by US DOT), the Electric Vehicle Research Center, STEPS+, 3 Revolutions Future Mobility, the Road Ecology Center, the China Center for Energy and Transportation, ETERC (Paris), the India ZEV Research Centre, and the Global South Center for Clean Transportation; and (3) convening and dissemination assets including the biennial Asilomar Conference on Transportation and Energy (since 1988), the International Conference on Clean Mobility and Energy, the Transportation and Climate Blog, and a publications repository (itspubs.ucdavis.edu). The underlying technology base is interdisciplinary modeling and behavioral analysis — environmental, economic, and energy impact modeling; travel behavior and demand modeling; policy evaluation; and technology assessment — supported by longitudinal data assets such as the Campus Travel Survey running annually since 2007.

ITS-Davis is a public-sector entity within UC Davis and The Regents of the University of California; it is not independently owned or venture-backed. Revenue is generated through government grants (federal DOT, DOE, EPA, and California state agencies), corporate and foundation partnerships (most notably the STEPS+ consortium of auto and truck makers, energy firms, and new mobility companies), graduate tuition and fellowships, and philanthropic contributions. Pricing for tuition is set by the UC system on a quarterly cadence with differentiated in-state and out-of-state rates. Customer segments are hybrid: government agencies (primary), industry partners (primary), graduate students (primary), and NGOs/international organizations (secondary), served through research collaboration, technical assistance, policy engagement via the 2024-established ITS-Davis Policy Collaborative, and event-driven convening.

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis
Legal name: The Regents of the University of California, Davis campus
Website: https://its.ucdavis.edu
Company type: Public
Founded year: 1988
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 101–250 employees
Short description: ITS-Davis is a public university research and education institute at UC Davis conducting interdisciplinary research, graduate education, and policy advisory work on sustainable transportation, operating 17+ research centers and serving government agencies, industry, and students globally.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis industry classification

Industry

Product category: Transportation Research & Policy Services
NAICS: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)
SIC: Services-Educational Services (8200), Transportation Services (4700)
akta.pro primary industry: Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis (EDAHAAAD)

Keywords

Sustainable transportation research
Transportation policy analysis
Electric vehicle research
Travel behavior modeling
Graduate transportation education

Where Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Davis
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

Research Grants and Funding: Major research funding from federal and state government agencies, foundations, and industry partners. Budget of over $20 million supporting affiliated centers and programs.
Corporate and Foundation Partnerships: Funding and support from corporations and foundations that sponsor research programs and initiatives, including the STEPS+ consortium with auto/truck makers, energy firms, and new mobility companies.
Graduate Education: Graduate student tuition and fees from M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Transportation Technology and Policy, with fellowships available for outstanding applicants.
Philanthropic Contributions: Donations and gifts to various funds including the Institute of Transportation Studies Annual Fund, Undergraduate Research Support Fund, and named funds for student support and research awards.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Quarterly	Graduate tuition and fees for M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Transportation Technology and Policy

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis product offering

Product offering

Core offering

ITS-Davis conducts interdisciplinary research and offers graduate education on sustainable transportation, operating 17+ specialized research centers covering electric vehicles, automated mobility, freight, road ecology, transit, energy futures, and policy. The institute engages directly with government agencies and industry through sponsored research, technical reports, policy briefings, and convening conferences such as the biennial Asilomar Conference on Transportation and Energy.

Product overview

ITS-Davis is the world's leading university center for sustainable transportation, operating as a comprehensive research and education institution. The core educational offering is the Transportation Technology and Policy Graduate Group providing M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Research is conducted through 17+ specialized research centers including the National Center for Sustainable Transportation (NCST), Electric Vehicle Research Center, STEPS+, 3 Revolutions Future Mobility Program, Road Ecology Center, and others covering topics from electric vehicles and automated mobility to freight sustainability and road ecology. The institute also hosts major conferences including the biennial Asilomar Conference and provides policy engagement through its Policy Collaborative. Additional offerings include the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program, travel awards, publications, the Transportation & Climate Blog, and the Campus Travel Survey research program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Transportation Technology and Policy Graduate Group (M.S. and Ph.D. Programs)
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program
National Center for Sustainable Transportation (NCST)
Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways (STEPS+)
Electric Vehicle Research Center
3 Revolutions Future Mobility Program (3RFM)
ITS-Davis Policy Collaborative
Asilomar Conference on Transportation and Energy
International Conference on Clean Mobility & Energy
Campus Travel Survey

Quantifiable outcome

Over $20M annual budget supporting research across 17+ centers and initiatives
+3 more outcomes

Companies that use Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis

Customer profile

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and major.

Ghent UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2026Co-hosting the Third International Conference on Clean Mobility and Energy in Ghent, Belgium on September 15-16, 2026. The conference brings together senior policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers from Europe, the United States, and beyond to advance sustainable transportation while boosting economic and industrial competitiveness.
Automotive and Truck ManufacturerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEPS+ (Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways) consortium brings together leading auto and truck makers, energy firms, new mobility companies, foundations, and government agencies to understand sustainable vehicle and energy solutions. Major research collaboration involving shared research priorities and funding.
U.S. Department of TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Center for Sustainable Transportation (NCST) is one of five national centers administered by US DOT. Provides national leadership in advancing environmentally sustainable transportation through cutting-edge research, direct policy engagement, and education of future leaders.
California Air Resources Board (CARB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing policy research and technical support for California's zero-emission vehicle policies, Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and transportation climate initiatives. Researchers regularly participate in public meetings, provide briefings, and submit comments on regulatory proposals.
University of California SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUC ITS branches at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UCLA receive annual state allocation to address questions and needs of local, regional, and state governments in California. Collaborative research and policy engagement across the UC system.
European Transport and Energy Research Centre (ETERC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished by ITS-Davis and based in Paris, ETERC supports the shift to sustainable transportation in Europe and builds stronger connections between Europe, California, and the greater US. Extends ITS-Davis research reach internationally.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

UC Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies: Sister UC institute founded in 1948, conducting interdisciplinary transportation research and graduate education with similar structure. Both are part of the multi-campus UC ITS system receiving state allocations and operate overlapping research centers, making Berkeley ITS the closest peer in mission and scale.
International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT): Non-profit providing technical research to regulators on clean transportation globally. Directly comparable mission (clean-mobility research informing policy) and overlapping international footprint (China, India, Europe, U.S.).
MIT Mobility Initiative / Center for Transportation and Logistics: MIT's interdisciplinary mobility research and education hub, combining engineering, policy, and data science with strong corporate consortia. Comparable to ITS-Davis in combining graduate education, sponsored research, and convening authority with industry and government.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI): One of the largest U.S. university transportation research centers, focused on safety, automation, and sustainable mobility. Comparable scale of sponsored research, large affiliated faculty, and government/industry partnerships make VTTI a direct structural peer.
Carnegie Mellon Mobility21 National University Transportation Center: Nationally-funded UTC focused on smart transportation, automation, and mobility data science. Overlaps with ITS-Davis's MoSAIC and 3RFM programs and competes for similar federal UTC funding.

Broad incumbents

Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI): The largest affiliated transportation research agency in the U.S. with extensive state DOT and federal funding. TTI's broader scope (infrastructure, safety, policy) and larger scale position it as the broad-incumbent peer in the university transportation research space.
Georgia Tech Transportation Center / Urban Resilience Institute: Major U.S. university transportation research center covering infrastructure, electrification, and policy. Comparable institutional scale and federal/state funding mix, with broader engineering emphasis.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) - Transportation: DOE national laboratory conducting large-scale sustainable transportation and mobility energy research. Overlaps with ITS-Davis's Energy Futures and EV Research Center agendas and is a frequent federal-grant peer.

Emerging players

RAND Corporation - Transportation Research: Global policy think tank with transportation and mobility research programs serving federal and state clients. Comparable in policy-analytics role and convening authority, though not a university-based research institute.

Regional players

INFRAS (Switzerland): European research and consulting firm focused on sustainable mobility, transport policy, and energy. Closest European peer to ITS-Davis's transportation-and-energy policy work, with comparable interdisciplinary research outputs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries15 records

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis

What does Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis do?

Is Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis a public or private company?

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis founded?

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis was founded in 1988. It employs 101 to 250 people.

Where is Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis based?

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis is headquartered in Davis, United States, in the North America region.

How does Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis make money?

Four revenue lines are on record. Research Grants and Funding is the primary driver. The others are corporate and Foundation Partnerships, graduate Education and philanthropic Contributions.

Who are Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are UC Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies, International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), MIT Mobility Initiative / Center for Transportation and Logistics, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) and Carnegie Mellon Mobility21 National University Transportation Center. Broad incumbents are Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), Georgia Tech Transportation Center / Urban Resilience Institute and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) - Transportation. RAND Corporation - Transportation Research is listed as an emerging player. INFRAS (Switzerland) is listed as a regional player.

Does Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis have an API?

No public API is recorded for Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis.

What industry is Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis in?

Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis's product category is Transportation Research & Policy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAD, Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.