You rarely hear this phrase at an auto show: “We don’t want to sell any cars!” says Clotilde Delbos (55), CEO of Mobilize. The fourth brand has been under the umbrella of the Renault Group since 2018. Created as a joint venture between the French automaker and the Chinese company Jiangling Motors Corporation Group, Mobilize today manages all business areas of the group not directly related to automobile sales.
“We want to offer easy access to green, shared and affordable mobility,” Delbos summarizes. Owning a car is becoming increasingly annoying and expensive, especially in metropolitan areas; There is less and less parking, and local politicians are forcing cars out of cities. “If you really need a car, rent it or share it,” Delbos says. It’s not a new idea: BMW launched Drive Now in 2011, Mercedes Car2go in 2008, and both sharing services never broke ground. Car ownership is still the usual pattern of use. “But that will change – and then we need to be ready,” Delbos replies.
Electric cars and car subscriptions
The team around Delbos has been working on a wide range of topics for a long time: Mobilize 2023 with the Binary and Bento delivery version is launching the next generation of the previous mini electric speed motor Twizy. Mobilize Charge provides access to approximately 260,000 charging stations across Europe and provides billing tools via the app. The specially developed Limo electric limousine is leased to services, including charging infrastructure and maintenance. Added to this is collaboration with innovative start-ups with new ideas for car subscriptions, local mobility projects and services. Delbos may even dream of working with brands from other groups. Another reason why parent company Renault’s logo wasn’t on the Mobilize booth at the Paris Motor Show.
Is mobilize financially viable? “Mobilizing is an investment in the future,” Delbos says. But it’s not a money-burning machine, it’s growing sustainably and profitably. Key trick: The group’s own financing bank, RCI, has been part of Mobilize since May and contributes six percent of group sales. By 2030, the mobility subsidiary Renault will account for one-fifth of its sales.
But under what circumstances will the idea of mobility services prevail over one’s own car? Do you need new generation users for this? “Absolutely – for example, many young people don’t have a driver’s license anymore,” Delbos says. But it also depends on the market conditions: Switzerland is ideal for Mobilize, says Delbos – densely populated, quite expensive and has good public transport: “In Switzerland you don’t necessarily need a car.”