Germany, Austria and Switzerland Smart Elevators and Escalators Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Global Industry Analysis: By Type (Escalator, Elevator), By Application (Parking building, Hospital, Transportation, Residential, Retail, Hotels, Commercial) and Country 2020-2031

Germany, Austria, and Switzerland Smart Elevators and Escalators Market size was valued at approximately US$ 2,050 million in 2024 and is projected to reach about US$ 2,950 million by 2031, expanding at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period (2025–2031). Moreover, Germany is expected to remain the dominant market in the region, supported by smart city initiatives, modernization of aging infrastructure, and rising demand for energy-efficient vertical transportation systems.

Germany, Austria, and Switzerland's intelligent elevators and escalators market is amid a low-profile but revolutionary transformation, as urbanization, aged assets, and compliance with sustainability regulations converge to reshape vertical mobility. These countries, with their advanced building regulations and smart city agendas, are adopting smart transport systems with the incorporation of IoT, AI, and cloud connectivity for enhanced user experience and operational efficiency. Whereas property developers increasingly value energy efficiency and maintenance prognosis, the aging lift systems are either retrofitted or replaced with their intelligent counterparts. No longer are people the only priority, but designing a silky, touch-safe, and environmentally friendly ride through increasingly intricate and towering urban landscapes.

It is the long-term value orientation, regulatory compliance, and high-technology integration that characterize the DACH market as special. Government-sponsored stimulus for green building retrofits and strict accessibility standards are stimulating demand for home and public infrastructure projects. Demand is most pronounced in multi-unit residential, transit centers, and health care campuses, where availability, sanitation, and intelligent traffic control systems are most important. Besides it, the extremely strong manufacturing foundation and world OEM footprint in players' geographies such as Schindler, Thyssenkrupp, and Otis are influencing the development of control systems, regenerative drives, and over-the-air diagnostics. With the urbanization of cities and the smart buildings, vertical mobility in the DACH region will be an excellent case study of smart infrastructure competence.

Facts & Figures

• Retrofit Boom in Germany: An overwhelming majority of Germany's elevator fleet is more than 20 years old, hence triggering an instant surge in modernization schemes in the form of taking up smart controls, energy-saving drives, and remote diagnostics.
• Austria's Targeted Growth: Austria's sustainability goals at the national level and EU-harmonized building regulations are driving aggressive uptake of smart vertical mobility solutions by new dwellings and transport buildings.
• Touchless Technology on the Rise Post-Pandemic: Throughout the DACH region, touchless elevator buttons and contactless access interfaces have been unanimously in demand in hospitals, hotels, and offices since COVID-19.

Key Developments

• In June 2025, Nibav Launches Clear Smart Home Lifts: Nibav launched space-efficient, clear pneumatic home lifts suited for space-maximizing home layouts. They have no pit or machine room, offering greater integration with retrofit and contemporary designs.
• In June 2024, ThyssenKrupp Launches Predictive Safety System: ThyssenKrupp launched a predictive elevator monitoring system that alerts building managers of future risks before breakdown, increasing passenger safety and lowering maintenance expenses through preventive diagnostics.
• In May 2024, Schindler Rebuilds Lifts as Digital Media Platforms: Schindler collaborated with FRAMEN to convert over 150 luxury hotels in the DACH region into addressable digital ad media, rising to 220 hotels by 2025. Digital Advertising on the Move, the intelligent lift screens now provide infotainment and time-targeted offers, allowing brands to engage hotel visitors with compelling content through programmatic reservation via the FRAMEN Ads Manager.

Germany, Austria and Switzerland Smart Elevators and Escalators Market Segmentation

Based on the type:

• Escalator
• Elevator

Elevators lead the DACH smart mobility vertical due to high demand for vertical travel in downtown residential and commercial skyscrapers. In mega cities like Berlin, Vienna, and Zurich, where land space is limited and needs to be maximized, IoT, energy-efficient motor drives, and artificial intelligence-based traffic predictive systems are being integrated into smart elevators to maximize efficiency and reduce waiting time. Their ability to support touchless operation and remote diagnostic assistance have gained specific relevance in the post-pandemic scenario. Additionally, building codes in such nations emphasize accessibility and power preservation, forcing contractors to choose smart elevator installations that complement sustainability initiatives. With ageing buildings all over most of Western Europe, elevator modernization programs are driving steady demand for smart, retrofittable systems all over the region.

Based on the application:

• Parking Building
• Hospital
• Transportation
• Residentials
• Retail
• Hotels
• Commercial

The real estate market is one of the key drivers of smart escalator and elevator adoption in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where high urban population density and multi-story residential building construction are spurring demand. Homeowners' associations and owners of buildings want silent operation, energy efficiency, and user-centric benefits like customized floor access or app control. Within Germany alone, ambitious retrofit projects are being planned to update aging elevator technology within aged residential high-rises with sophisticated, smart technologies for enhancing safety and sustainability needs. The increasing populations of older residents within the DACH region also create demand for convenient-to-use, smart elevator systems that facilitate voice control, emergency calls, and predictive maintenance, convenience and long-term operating reliability.