Can transportation network companies improve the sustainability of urban transportation?

• The effects of TNCs promotion on urban mobility and GHG emissions were dynamically investigated. • TNCs promotion in areas with low car ownership and strong car travel demand may increase GHG emissions. • Raising prices and limiting fleet size significantly mitigated the adverse effects. • Adopting BEVs can only reduce GHG emissions during the transition to electrification. • Heterogeneity based on travel distance and demographic characteristics was examined. This study investigates the effects of transportation network companies (TNCs) on user travel behavior and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Beijing. The results show that TNCs in areas with low car ownership and strong car travel demand may increase GHG emissions. Raising prices and limiting vehicle supply can significantly mitigate the adverse effects by greening modal shift patterns and reducing TNC service use. TNCs, in the initial phase under laissez-faire policy, increased GHG emissions by 3.58 kg of CO 2 -eq per user per month, while in the mature development stage under strict regulatory policies, this value dropped to 1.06 kg of CO 2 -eq. In addition, significant heterogeneity was found among users with different demographic characteristics. It is worth noting that under the current modal shift patterns, adopting battery electric vehicles can improve the sustainability of TNCs, but it can only reduce GHG emissions in the transitory stage.