· New APAC study highlights how navigation can support productivity, safety awareness and earnings for Asia Pacific’s two‑wheeler workforce
11 May 2026 – Asia Pacific – HERE Technologies, the world’s leading mapping and location data company, today released new findings from its regional study ‘Inside the Two‑Wheeler Landscape in APAC’, revealing that navigation has become essential infrastructure for two‑wheeler riders across Asia-Pacific (APAC). From dense megacities to fast‑growing urban centers, riders across APAC depend on navigation to manage time pressure, reduce safety risks and support daily earnings in increasingly complex road environments.
Two‑wheelers are deeply embedded in every day mobility across the region – supporting commuting, delivery and last‑mile logistics at massive scale. As cities grow denser and riding conditions become more unpredictable, the study shows that riders consistently prioritize routing accuracy, real‑time traffic intelligence, reliable ETAs and safety‑aware guidance over experimental or novelty features.
A region where navigation supports livelihood, not just convenience
Commissioned by HERE Technologies and conducted by Point Consulting, an independent strategy and insights firm, the study surveyed more than 2,400 riders across China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. The findings reveal a shared reality across APAC: navigation is no longer a “nice‑to‑have,” but a mission‑critical system that supports income stability, operational efficiency and rider confidence.
Across markets, riders evaluate navigation primarily on whether it helps them:
· Avoid delays and congestion
· Reach destinations accurately
· Anticipate hazards and unsafe roads
· Maintain predictable travel times under pressure
The closer navigation performance aligns with real‑world riding conditions, the higher the trust riders place in it.
Reliability ranks above innovation across diverse markets
While usage patterns vary by market maturity, rider expectations remain strikingly consistent. The study identifies four APAC‑wide themes:
1. Navigation is mission‑critical
Across APAC, surveyed riders describe navigation as infrastructure, not a feature. It directly affects delivery outcomes, daily productivity and stress levels.
2. Reliability matters more than advanced features
Meeting the core needs of riders, such as accurate routing, dependable ETAs and clear guidance, consistently outrank interest in optional or experimental features. Innovation is welcomed when it is perceived to improve trust, support safer mobility or predictability.
3. Safety and earnings are tightly linked
For gig and delivery riders, unsafe routes, inaccurate ETAs and routing errors introduce income uncertainty. Riders frequently choose safer or more predictable routes, even if they take longer, reinforcing that efficiency is judged by outcomes and not speed alone.
4. Market maturity shapes usage, not expectations
In high‑maturity markets, navigation is used situationally due to route familiarity. In high‑pressure markets, it is used continuously. In both, expectations for accuracy and consistency remain equally high.
“Across APAC, two‑wheelers are not just vehicles – they are lifelines,” said Deon Newman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific at HERE Technologies. “This study shows that navigation succeeds when it reflects real rider behavior and real road conditions. Accuracy, reliability and safety awareness matter far more than abstract efficiency. By understanding how riders move, the industry can build navigation systems that truly support safer and more productive everyday mobility at scale.”
As APAC continues to urbanize and digitize, navigation will remain a cornerstone of daily mobility, enabling safer journeys for riders to earn consistently and operate with greater confidence in some of the world’s most demanding road environments.
For deeper insights and data from the study, visit https://www.here.com/two-wheelers to access the full report.
HERE Technologies engaged Point Consulting, a specialized consultancy focused on mapping and location‑services research, to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the two‑wheeler market across APAC in Q1 2026. The study combined a large‑scale quantitative survey of more than 2,400 riders across major cities, secondary urban centers and rural areas including commuters, leisure riders, gig and delivery workers, and EV users aged 18 to 55+. To complement the survey, the research also incorporated seven in‑depth qualitative interviews with industry experts and desk research examining broader trends in mobility, electrification and urbanization across the region.
About HERE Technologies
HERE is the global leader in mapping and location technology. For over 40 years, we’ve been powering innovation for the world’s most recognizable companies: from launching our first digital map in 1985, to shaping the future of software-defined vehicles today. With the industry’s freshest and richest unified map and a portfolio of products, services and solutions that serve the needs of multiple industries, HERE reveals opportunities that drive progress and unlock new possibilities for every moving vehicle. Discover more at here.com.
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