Fedra Ribeiro was developing advanced digital technologies at one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers when out of the blue she got a phone call from one of the biggest names in the industry — Luca de Meo, CEO of French carmaker Renault Group. On a mission to accelerate the company’s progress in innovative areas like ride-sharing and electric charging, de Meo wanted Ribeiro to be part of the team delivering his vision.
So it was that Ribeiro became CEO of Renault’s Mobilize Beyond Automotive division at the start of this year. “Being in a position to be part of this revolution is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she says. “We call it the Renaulution.”
Thanks to the services being developed by Mobilize Beyond Automotive, Renault Group has become a pioneer in a world where vehicles are electric, cars are used rather than owned, and mobility is a service and not a product.
“The mobility services of the future will be sustainable, accessible and shared.”
Fedra Ribeiro, CEO, Mobilize Beyond Automotive, Renault Group
Drivers in Europe will be able to enjoy the full benefits of this transformation starting next year, when the eye-catching, all-electric Duo first hits the streets. At just eight feet long and four and a quarter feet wide, the two-seater quadricycle is specifically designed for zipping around in crowded cities.
Enjoying ready access to Europe’s growing number of low emission zones, the Duo will be fun to drive and a cinch to park, with three Duos fitting into one standard parking space. A larger model, the Bento, comes with a cargo box and is aimed at small businesses and tradespeople who need to transport goods and equipment around cities.
Perhaps the greatest innovation of the Duo is to be found not in its eye-catching design or its engineering but in the business model behind it. The Duo is aimed at drivers who want to enjoy all the benefits of a car without having to buy one. Accordingly, the vehicle will be available via subscription or through car-sharing plans.
“Many people want to use a car but they don’t want to own one,” says Ribeiro. “The Duo has been created for people of all ages who in some countries may not even need a license. Anyone can be a Duo customer—they just have to be cool enough to want to drive one.”
Mobilize is already tapping into fast-growing demand for car-sharing by operating successful services such as the Zity electric car-sharing business in France, Italy and Spain. Zity revenues increased by 56% last year, when the Spanish operations achieved profitability. Next year the purpose-designed Duo will become available to rent on the Zity service.
“Our mission is to drive the evolution from single-use vehicles to shared electric mobility,” says Ribeiro.
Mobilize is also developing advanced services that will accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. A major component of this effort is the Mobilize Fast Charge network, which will include 200 stations in France, Belgium, Spain and Italy. Each station will have six ultrafast charging points, relieving drivers of range anxiety on even the longest trips.
Also next year, drivers of the eagerly awaited electric Renault 5 will be able to use Mobilize’s bidirectional charging system to light their homes, power appliances and even sell electricity back to the grid.
“We want to make mobility more affordable and more sustainable,” says Ribeiro. “There is a revolution in the automotive world, and we are leading the way.”
