Mobilize (marque)

Last updated
Mobilize
Company typeBrand, Business unit
Industry Automotive
PredecessorRenault's financing and mobility services operations
FoundedJanuary 2021
Area served
Europe
Key people
Gianluca De Ficchy (CEO) [1]
Products Cars
ServicesFinancing, car-related services
Parent Renault Group
Divisions
Website www.mobilize.com/en/

Mobilize is a business unit of the French car manufacturer Renault established in 2021 and it is mainly specialized in mobility-related services. [2] It focuses on subscription services, leasing, loans, data, and energy management, offering Mobilize-badged vehicles for car sharing and delivery services. [3]

Contents

Mobilize is one of the four brands of the Renault Group, along with Renault, Dacia and Alpine.

Mobilize is available in France and Germany, [4] Spain, [5] United Kingdom, and Morocco. [6]

Based on the premise that purchasing vehicles is no longer the preferred option of drivers, Mobilize aims to focus its offer on rental and car-sharing. [7]

History

The Mobilize business unit was created in January 2021 as part of a wider overhauling of Renault operations. [8] The new unit was set to develop car sharing and other niche businesses. [9] Mobilize was also aimed at meeting new mobility needs like car-sharing, last-mile delivery and on-demand transport. [8] Created as part of Luca de Meo’s Renaulution plan, [10] Mobilize specializes in mobility services: [11] [12] energy services, [2] driving-related data analysis (like the identification of accident-prone areas, road analysis, traffic and pollution data etc…), financing and car manufacturing. [13]

In January 2021, the unit launched the Mobilize vehicle marque by presenting Mobilize EZ-1 Prototype, a car-sharing prototype quadricycle. [14] Later that year, Renault integrated its Zity electric car-sharing business into Mobilize, renaming it Zity by Mobilize. [15] The first marketed car was the subscription-only Mobilize Limo (a rebadged JMEV Yi from JMEV), introduced in the second half of 2022. [16] [17] In May 2022, Renault's financial affiliate RCI Banque was made part of the unit, adopting the trade name Mobilize Financial Services. [18]

In October 2022, Mobilize announced Mobilize Fast Charge, its EV fast-charging network, with plans for 200 chargers, primarily at Renault dealerships near major roadways, by mid-2024. [19] [20]

In July 2023, Mobilize Financial Services subsidiary, Mobilize Lease&co announced its acquisition of two German companies belonging to the MeinAuto Group, Mobility Concept and MeinAuto. [4]

In August 2023, Mobilize acquired shares in Select Car Leasing, a UK-based leasing company. [21] [22] [23]

Operations

Mobilize provides cars for ride-sharing, taxi and delivery companies, while also offering car-related services (including subscriptions), financial services, [24] and charging services. The unit does not produce vehicles but it gets them from other entities. [25] The unit is divided into two major divisions: Mobilize Financial Services (car financing) [24] and Mobilize Beyond Automotive (other activities). [26]

List of services

Vehicles and services

Vehicles

Mobilize Limo

In November 2023, Renault announced that the electric sedan, originally intended for cabs and VTCs, would not be marketed. [29]

Mobilize Duo/ Bento

Mobilize Duo at Auto Zurich 2024 Mobilize Duo Auto Zuerich 2024 DSC 6426.jpg
Mobilize Duo at Auto Zurich 2024
Mobilize Bento at IAA Transportation 2024 Renault Pro+, IAA 2024, Hanover (P1200059).jpg
Mobilize Bento at IAA Transportation 2024

On 10 October 2022, Mobilize presented a set of concepts alongside the production version of the Duo and Bento models. [30] [31]

Mobilize Duo is regarded as the new Twizy. [32] [33] [34] This model is available in two versions, 45 and 80, [35] and it can carry two people. [36]

Mobilize Bento is the utility version of Mobilize Duo. [37] The launch of these two vehicles, Mobilize Bento and Mobilize Duo, is scheduled for 2024. [38]

Mobilize Solo Concept

The idea for the Mobilize Solo came from Renault's design studio in India, starting from a skateboard with an umbrella, although the final concept is more like a chair in a cover. It measures 1,370 mm (54 in) long, 900 mm (35 in) wide and 1,750 mm (69 in) high. Inside there is room for one person in a semi-sitting position with a joystick instead of a steering wheel.

Mobilize Hippo

Mobilize Hippo is a utility vehicle for last-mile delivery. [39] A prototype of Hippo was presented was first presented at the Viva Tech in 2021. [40]

Services

Mobilize Power Solutions

Formerly known as Elexent, Mobilize Power Solutions is the entity for electric recharging. [41] The service is available in 11 countries. [42]

Mobilize Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) Technology

In June 2023, Mobilize announced its Powerbox bidirectional charging station as part of the launch of the new Renault 5 electric. [43] In 2024, the Renault 5 with Mobilize V2G technology will offer to save money by plugging in the car. [44] The two-way system will transform the electric city car into an energy supplier. [44]

With its V2G service, Mobilize functions as an energy supplier. [45] The Mobilize V2G service saves money on home recharging and on the overall electricity bill, it also allows the electricity to be sold on the market. [46]

Mobilize Fast Charge

In Octobre 2022, Mobilize announced its plans for a European fast-charging network by 2024. [47]

Rental

Mobilize specializes in flexible rental formulas. [7] À la carte rental is one of the options available. [7]

Mobilize Share

Mobilize Share is Mobilize's car-sharing service, the first of its kind in france. [48] [49]

Zity

Zity is Mobilize's car-sharing subsidiary. In 2022, its sales amounted to 12 million euros. [50]

Data-processing

Supported by Renault, Software Factory and other partners, Mobilize will also work to develop cutting-edge algorithms and data processing software for better forecasting of user demand and better vehicle dispatching. [51]

Financial services

Mobilize Financial Services is Mobilize's unit devoted to financial services, which is already present worldwide. Among other things, it operates in partnership with Nissan. [52] In March 2023, Mitsubishi chose Renault as its sole provider of financing services. [53] [54] Among the brands of Mobilize Financial Services, there is the long-term leasing service, Mobilize Lease&Co. [55]

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