Australia Vertical Mobility Market Overview, 2031

Key Insights

• Australia has a well-developed vertical mobility market supported by rapid urbanization, high-rise construction, infrastructure development, and the modernization of an aging installed base. Vertical mobility driven by commercial and residential infrastructure development. Population growth, rising demand for high-rise buildings, and government initiatives to improve public infrastructure are key structural drivers.
• The most important Australian market driver is the modernization of the existing installed base. There are approximately 200,000 elevators and escalators in Australia, with 25% of them more than 15 years old and requiring upgrades. One of the most significant opportunities lies in the modernization of an estimated 45,000–55,000 installed traction and hydraulic lifts built between 1980 and 2010, the majority of which are candidates for partial or full MRL conversion.
• High-rise residential and commercial construction remains a primary demand center. The growing focus on building high-rise residential and commercial structures in metropolitan areas creates consistent demand for advanced vertical mobility solutions. Major projects include a USD 2.5 billion twin-tower commercial space in Sydney's Tech Central and a USD 1 billion office tower and build-to-rent apartment’s development in Melbourne. The Australian government has also committed USD 5 billion to Melbourne's Airport Rail Link, a 23-kilometer project expected to generate significant demand for elevators and escalators.
• Smart and connected vertical mobility is becoming a major technology trend. The integration of IOT-enabled predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring, and AI-based traffic management is reshaping the market. Technological advancements such as IoT integration, predictive maintenance, and touch less controls are offering improved safety, efficiency, and user experience. Urban redevelopment projects and infrastructure modernization are further supporting market growth, with smart elevators and escalators increasingly incorporating AI to enhance safety, efficiency, and passenger experience.
• Energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important in both new installations and modernization projects. There is rising demand for energy-efficient and sustainable escalators and elevators, driven by Australia's sustainability initiatives and green building certifications. Regenerative drives, eco-friendly components, and intelligent control systems that reduce energy use by 20–30% relative to standard drives are gaining traction. The Green Building Council of Australia has reported an increase in projects achieving 5-star and 6-star Green Star ratings, indicating a greater focus on sustainability.
• Accessibility requirements provide a structural source of demand for elevators, platform lifts, and other accessibility solutions. The National Construction Code (NCC) establishes requirements for accessible features in passenger lifts, including minimum car dimensions and clear door openings compliant with AS 1735.12. NCC 2025 has removed acceptance of certain small-sized, low-speed automatic lifts, tightening accessibility and safety requirements.

Market Outlook

cording to the research report, "Australia Vertical Mobility Market Overview, 2031," published by Bonafide Research, the Australia Vertical Mobility Market is anticipated to grow at more than 7.12% CAGR from 2026 to 2031.
• Modernization is expected to become one of the most important service opportunities. The Australia Elevator Modernization Market was valued at a certain amount in a recent year and is projected to reach a larger amount by the end of the forecast period, according to Reed Intelligence. Modernization projects offer higher margin potential than new-build contracts and strengthen long-term service-revenue streams. Suppliers that can offer compact MRL drive packages designed for existing shaft dimensions, without requiring major civil modification, are well positioned to capture this demand.
• Smart elevators and connected mobility systems will gain importance. Future systems are expected to incorporate AI-supported traffic management, predictive maintenance, remote diagnostics, cloud connectivity, mobile interfaces, destination dispatch, and real-time equipment monitoring. Australian property owners are increasingly seeking data-rich platforms that combine elevator performance metrics with HVAC, security, and lighting management. Suppliers who develop or partner on open-protocol API solutions can differentiate their offerings and lock in multi-year service contracts.
• High-rise and high-density buildings will continue to require advanced elevator technologies. High-speed elevators, destination-control systems, group control, machine-room-less systems, and advanced traction technologies are increasingly relevant for large commercial towers, residential developments, hotels, and mixed-use buildings. The market is witnessing value growth outpacing unit growth by a small margin annually as premium-spec MRL units gain share. Growth is reinforced by green-building rating upgrades and the cost-benefit of intelligent control systems.
• Healthcare, education, transportation, and institutional infrastructure will provide additional demand. Hospitals require reliable passenger and service elevators, while airports and major transportation hubs require elevators, escalators, and moving walkways capable of handling high passenger volumes. Government-funded upgrades to public infrastructure, including transport hubs and hospitals, are a key driver of modernization demand. The growing focus on embodied carbon in building materials is creating interest in low-carbon steel and recycled-material cab interiors, with early movers potentially capturing a significant share of premium-grade installations by the end of the forecast period.

Policies

• Building Codes & Safety Standards: Vertical mobility equipment in Australia is subject to the National Construction Code (NCC) , which establishes safety and accessibility requirements for lifts, escalators, and moving walkways. AS 1735.1.2:2021 identically adopts EN 81-20:2020 for Australia and specifies the safety rules for permanently installed new passenger or goods passenger lifts. AS 1735.2 contains specific provisions for emergency lifts. AS 1735.12 sets out requirements for mandatory handrails, minimum clear door openings, passenger protection systems, and lighting in enclosed lift cars.
• Accessibility Regulations: The NCC establishes comprehensive requirements for accessible vertical transportation. E3D8 specifies accessible features required for passenger lifts, including lift floor dimensions of not less than 1400 mm wide x 1600 mm deep for all lifts which travel more than 12 m, and not less than 1100 mm wide x 1400 mm deep for all lifts which travel not more than 12 m, except a stairway platform lift. Minimum depth of car is specified as 2280 mm, minimum width of car as 1600 mm, and minimum floor-to-ceiling height as 2300 mm. A low-rise platform lift must not travel more than 1000 mm.
• Platform & Stair Lift Standards: Accessibility-focused equipment must comply with applicable technical requirements. Stairway platform lifts are subject to specific provisions within the NCC and AS 1735 series. These products represent a regulated part of the accessibility segment rather than simply an optional building convenience. The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability (Access to Premises — Buildings) Standards 2010 provide the legal foundation for accessible vertical transportation in Australia.
• State & Local Regulations: Building regulation is shared between national and state/territory authorities in Australia. While the NCC provides the core framework, each state and territory can adopt and enforce specific requirements for elevator design, installation, and maintenance on their own timelines. Consequently, manufacturers and service providers must manage differences in code adoption, inspection requirements, and enforcement between jurisdictions.
• Worker Safety & Maintenance Regulations: Elevator installation, maintenance, repair, and construction activities are subject to Australian workplace health and safety requirements. The Work Health and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations require lifts to comply with Australian Standard AS 1735 (lift code).
• Energy & Building Efficiency Requirements: Increasing adoption of building-energy codes and sustainability requirements is influencing elevator specifications in Australia. The National Energy Productivity Plan includes measures to improve ecological sustainability and resilience, including the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) and Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for appliances, and updates to the National Construction Code.

Industry News

• IN July 2026, KONE Australia completed a modular modernization project for an aging residential lift in Newcastle, New South Wales. The Otis Gen2 lift was upgraded using KONE’s ReSolve™ MRL solution, extending the equipment’s lifecycle while addressing reliability and obsolescence concerns.
• In July 2026, the Northern Territory Government progressed the modernization and replacement of elevators at Darwin Parliament House. The project covers modernization of lifts 1–4 and complete replacement of lifts 5–6, together with a maintenance period intended to provide a further 20 years of reliable lift operation.
• In June 2026, the New South Wales Government awarded Schindler Lifts Australia a contract for the Hillside Link project at Taronga Zoo. The approximately A$1.75 million project includes three new escalators and one glass lift, together with associated shaft and infrastructure works.
• In April 2026, Queensland Rail commenced a major upgrade at Brisbane Central Station, replacing the lift and escalators serving platforms 5 and 6. The project is scheduled to continue through early 2027 and forms part of ongoing efforts to improve reliability and accessibility across the station.
• In May 2026, Otis launched its Otis Link™ MOD commercial escalator modernization portfolio, providing modular options for upgrading aging escalators with improved safety, reliability, energy efficiency and connected monitoring capabilities. The solutions are designed to reduce disruption during modernization projects.
• In December 2025, KONE strengthened its Australian presence through the acquisition of selected assets, customers and employees of FUJI Elevators Australia. The transaction expanded KONE’s local service capabilities and complemented its existing elevator maintenance and modernization business.

Segment Analysis

Australia Vertical Mobility Market by Product Type
• Elevators / Lifts represent the core product segment. Passenger elevators are extensively installed in residential towers, commercial buildings, hotels, hospitals, educational facilities, government buildings, and mixed-use developments. Demand comes from both new construction and replacement of aging equipment. The market is segmented by type (passenger, cargo, home), with passenger elevators accounting for the majority of installations. KONE offers the EcoDisc™ TransSys™, the only machine-room-less technology freight elevator in its class operating with loads of up to 5000 kg. Simplex Elevators offers MRL traction or hydraulic lifts ranging from 180 kg capacity to 4000 kg capacity and speeds up to 1.6 m/s.
• Escalators are primarily used where large volumes of people need continuous movement between adjacent floors. Shopping centers, airports, railway and metro stations, department stores, stadiums, convention centers, and large commercial buildings represent important applications. The Australia escalator market is forecast to witness moderate growth, with market volume expected to reach 801 units and a value of $38M by 2035. Domestic production saw a significant increase of 53% to 539 units in 2024. Modern escalators increasingly incorporate energy-saving standby functions, sensor-based controls, improved safety systems, and digital monitoring.
• Moving Walkways are used for horizontal or gently inclined movement across large facilities. Airports, transit terminals, exhibition centers, shopping complexes, and large public facilities are key applications. Expansion and modernization of transportation infrastructure can support demand for moving walkways. The market is segmented into moving stairs and moving walks, with moving walks representing a smaller but growing segment.
• Stair Lifts provide accessibility for residential and commercial users who cannot easily use conventional stairs. The segment includes straight and curved stairway chairlift systems and is supported by aging populations, accessibility requirements, residential modification, and demand for independent mobility.
• Platform & Vertical Platform Lifts provide vertical accessibility where a conventional elevator may not be technically or economically appropriate. They are used in public buildings, schools, commercial properties, residences, and other facilities. Accessibility requirements allow platform lifts in defined applications and require applicable technical compliance. A low-rise platform lift must not travel more than 1000 mm under NCC provisions.
• Service / Dumbwaiter Lifts are used to move goods, food, documents, equipment, and materials between floors. Hospitals, restaurants, hotels, laboratories, commercial kitchens, retail facilities, and institutional buildings represent key demand centers.
• Specialized / Vertical Transport Systems include vehicle elevators, freight elevators, industrial lifts, construction-related systems, and other specialized vertical transportation equipment. Demand is linked to specialized building designs, industrial facilities, parking structures, logistics facilities, and infrastructure projects. TK Elevator supplies heavy-duty elevators for the Sydney Metro project, available with a robust capacity of up to 5,000 kg and a maximum rise of 110 meters, ideal for high-traffic environments like airports and metro stations.
Australia Vertical Mobility Market by End-Use Industry
• Residential is a dominant and growing segment, supported by apartment construction, condominium developments, senior living facilities, and residential modernization. The residential building market has faced weak demand conditions in recent years, but the commercial and institutional building markets have underpinned the industry's expansion. Demand includes passenger elevators, low-rise hydraulic systems, MRL elevators, accessibility lifts, and stair lifts. High-rise residential projects in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are key demand centers.
• Commercial represents a major demand center, covering offices, hotels, shopping malls, retail buildings, mixed-use developments, restaurants, and commercial towers. The commercial sector is identified as a key growth driver, with robust conditions in the commercial and institutional building markets since the COVID-19 dip underpinning industry expansion. High passenger volumes make traffic management, elevator availability, energy efficiency, and destination control increasingly important.
• Industrial applications include factories, warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing plants, industrial laboratories, and production facilities. Freight elevators, service lifts, personnel elevators, and specialized vertical transport systems are important in this segment. Australia's large mining and metals operations require cryogenic storage tanks, transport tanks, and gas-distribution infrastructure for processing, cutting, welding, and inserting.
• Institutional demand comes from hospitals, universities, schools, government buildings, courthouses, libraries, and other public institutions. Reliability, accessibility, safety, and emergency operation are particularly important in these applications. Government-funded upgrades to public infrastructure, including transport hubs and hospitals, are a key driver of modernization demand.
• Transportation & Infrastructure includes airports, railway stations, metro systems, transit hubs, bridges, tunnels, parking facilities, and other major infrastructure. Airports and transit stations generate demand for elevators, escalators, and moving walkways capable of handling high passenger volumes. The Melbourne Airport Rail Link (USD 5 billion, 23 kilometers) and Sydney Metro are notable projects driving demand for heavy-duty vertical transportation equipment.

Australia Vertical Mobility Market by Technology
• Hydraulic elevators remain important for low- and mid-rise applications because of their established technology and suitability for buildings with relatively limited travel heights. However, aging hydraulic systems are increasingly becoming targets for modernization, creating opportunities for controller, drive, door, and machine upgrades. Simplex Elevators offers hydraulic lifts as part of its standard range.
• Traction technology is widely used in mid-rise and high-rise buildings. Gearless and geared traction systems provide higher-speed operation and greater suitability for taller buildings. The technology is particularly important in commercial towers, hotels, hospitals, residential towers, and mixed-use developments.
• Machine Room Less (MRL) elevators place the traction machine and associated equipment within the hoistway rather than requiring a dedicated machine room. MRL systems can reduce building-space requirements and are increasingly relevant in residential, commercial, and modernization applications. Value growth is outpacing unit growth by 0.5–1.0 percentage points annually as premium-spec MRL units gain share, reinforced by green-building rating upgrades and the cost-benefit of intelligent control systems that reduce energy use by 20–30% relative to standard drives.
• Pneumatic elevators use air-pressure differences to move the elevator cabin and can be installed in selected low-rise residential and specialized applications. Their relatively compact architecture allows applications where conventional elevator infrastructure is difficult to install, although they remain a niche technology compared with traction and hydraulic systems.
• Smart / IoT-Enabled systems integrate sensors, connectivity, cloud platforms, predictive analytics, remote diagnostics, destination control, and AI-supported maintenance. This is expected to be one of the most important technology directions through 2031. The integration of IoT-enabled predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring, and touchless controls is reshaping the market.
Australia Vertical Mobility Market by Load Capacity
• <500 kg primarily serves residential buildings, accessibility applications, small commercial buildings, and specialized low-capacity applications. The segment includes certain home elevators, compact passenger lifts, and accessibility-oriented systems. Simplex Elevators offers MRL traction or hydraulic lifts ranging from 180 kg capacity. These solutions are suited to low-rise buildings where conventional elevator infrastructure is difficult or uneconomical.
• 500–1,000 kg represents a broad passenger elevator category used in residential buildings, offices, hotels, healthcare facilities, and small-to-medium commercial properties. Standard capacities in this range include 630 kg and 1000 kg, commonly used in commercial and residential projects. The segment combines passenger capacity with relatively efficient building-space requirements.
• 1,000–2,000 kg elevators are generally used in higher-traffic commercial, institutional, healthcare, hospitality, and mixed-use applications. KONE's N MonoSpace® offers a capacity of 1600 kg/21 persons with a speed of 2.50 m/s. These systems can support larger passenger loads and more demanding traffic patterns. They are common in mid- and high-rise buildings requiring reliable performance.
• >2,000 kg includes heavy-duty passenger, freight, hospital, industrial, vehicle, and specialized elevators. KONE offers the EcoDisc™ TransSys™ freight elevator with loads of up to 5000 kg. TK Elevator supplies heavy-duty elevators with a robust capacity of up to 5,000 kg and a maximum rise of 110 meters for high-traffic environments like airports and metro stations.
Australia Vertical Mobility Market by Service / Business Segment
• New Installation / New Equipment includes elevators, escalators, moving walkways, lifts, and specialized vertical transportation equipment installed in newly constructed buildings and infrastructure. Demand is influenced by residential and commercial construction, high-rise development, healthcare infrastructure, transportation projects, and institutional construction. New installations create the installed base that later requires maintenance and modernization.
• Maintenance & Repair represents the recurring service component of the Australian vertical mobility market and is a significant source of long-term revenue. Elevators and escalators require regular inspection, preventive maintenance, repairs, replacement parts, safety testing, and service contracts throughout their operating lives. The maintenance segment accounted for the largest share of the market and is expected to continue to retain its dominance owing to the presence of a large installed base.
Considered in this report
Historic Year: 2020
Base year: 2025
Estimated year: 2026
Forecast year: 2031
Aspects covered in this report



Aspects covered in this report
Vertical Mobility market size, in terms of value, with forecasts and segment analysis
Various market drivers and challenges
Ongoing trends and developments
Top profiled companies
Strategic recommendations

By Product Type
Elevators / Lifts
Escalators
Moving Walkways
Stair Lifts
Platform & Vertical Platform Lifts
Service / Dumbwaiter Lifts
Specialized / Vertical Transport Systems
Ropeway / Cable Systems

By End-use Segment
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Institutional
Transportation & Infrastructure



By Technology
Hydraulic
Traction
Vacuum / Pneumatic
Machine-Room-Less (MRL)
smart / IoT-enabled

By Load Capacity
<500 kg
500–1,000 kg
1,000–2,000 kg
2,000 kg

By Service / Business Segment
New Installation / New Equipment
Maintenance & Repair