The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed the growth of automotive subscription services, which offer motorists access to multiple types of vehicles, but Stellantis says it plans to begin its subscription on the West Coast using its Free2Move mobility brand.
Free2Move, Stellantis announced this week, will begin developing “flexible mobility solutions” to meet evolving demands with an all-inclusive monthly subscription is now available in select cities across California.
The Car On Demand service is one element of Free2Move mobility portfolio, which also includes features such as Free2Move Fleet Sharing and Fleet Management.
New service meets rising need
Free2Move Car On Demand is designed for customers, needing a vehicle on a month-to-month basis and do not want to commit to a long-term lease or vehicle purchase, Stellantis said. The service has already been proven successful in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Portland, Denver and Austin with more than 3,000 requests during the first months of service, according to Stellantis.
Vehicles can be booked through the Free2Move website, for a 100% digital experience that includes the customization of the subscription and online payment with assistance available if needed. The service can be canceled at any time.
Free2Move Car On Demand offers a large range of cars, including Jeep, Mercedes and Tesla, with a flat monthly fee that includes insurance, maintenance, 24/7 roadside assistance and free car delivery.
Free2Move began with Peugeot
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has been a champion of the mobility brand offering customers around the world portfolio of services.
Free2Move provides a range of services to meet the needs of its customers, whether it’s just a short period of time, like a few hours, or a much longer term, such as weeks or months. Users can also reserve VTC drivers, parking spaces and charging stations via the app.
Free2Move Mobility, which began in Europe as an experiment by the PSA Group under the Peugeot brand, now has 2 million customers worldwide, 450,000 rental vehicles, 500,000 parking spaces, 250,000 charging points for electric vehicles in Europe.
After PSA announced in 2016, it planned to re-launch the Peugeot brand in the U.S. and one of the first steps Peugeot took in the U.S. starting in 2017 was to launch a Free2Move initiative in Seattle and Washington D.C.
Tavares said this week plans to bring Peugeot back to the U.S. have been suspended since with PSA’s merger with Fiat Chrysler, noting the company already has a strong portfolio of brands across North America.
Stellantis notes with the recent chip crisis, the waiting list for new vehicles has increased.
Reliance on mobility services also enables sustainable lifestyle by offering a range of options such as bikes or public transit as seasonal transportation options, opting for vehicles at peak times throughout the year.
