Zity by Mobilize, a model of carsharing in Europe

Born at the end of 2017 in Madrid, Zity by Mobilize is now spreading to 4 major European cities.

The Spanish capital is the birthplace of Zity, which was born out of a partnership between Renault Group, a pioneer in electric vehicles in Europe, and Ferrovial, the Spanish operator recognised as one of the world’s leading players in infrastructure and urban service providers. Zity is present in Madrid with 500 and then over 700 Renault ZOEs.

The self-service car-sharing service is set to roll out in Paris in spring 2020 with 500 of these electric city cars. Its take-off has not been slowed down by the Covid crisis, as the cleaning and disinfection protocol has been adapted and customers then preferred car-sharing to public transport. A fleet of 250 Dacia Springs is gradually being added to the Parisian offer in 2021.

A change of name but not a change of function. From mid-2021, it will be called ” Zity by Mobilize “… in line with the official launch of the Mobilize brand, the new Renault Group brand which operates across the entire mobility value chain, beyond the car itself.

Zity by Mobilize is continuing its development in France in Lyon, one year after Paris, with the proposal of 125 Dacia Spring, in March 2022.

Italy, the third country in which Zity by Mobilize’s 100% electric self-service car-sharing service has been deployed, sees the arrival of 450 Dacia Springs in Milan in May 2022.

Improving the city’s air quality and helping residents get around more efficiently in a responsible and sustainable manner: that is the mission that Zity by Mobilize- has set out for itself.

For Javier Mateos, CEO of Zity Madrid, it’s as much about changing how people think by encouraging a transition away from privately owned vehicles and towards carsharing.

With Zity by Mobilize, a simple smartphone as well as a free, dedicated app is all you need to locate, book, unlock, and return a Renault ZOE or a Dacia Spring, as well as pay for the whole operation. Super flexible, this service is available without a subscription, making it very easy to use.

In terms of new mobility in the centres of large cities, Madrid is a pioneer. With four operators in place by 2017, Madrid’s car-sharing offer is among the most advanced in Europe. It was a development pushed along by city policies like the “Madrid Central” plan adopted at the end of 2018, which encourages the use of public transport or lower-impact options, such as bicycles. By offering a 100% electric carsharing service, Zity by Mobilize gives its users the ability to drive around the residential zones at the heart of Madrid and to park for free in dedicated spaces.

This dynamic has been seen in other cities, like London and Milan, that have introduced urban toll systems to encourage the use of carpooling and public transport.

Electric carsharing is a means of improving traffic flows in city centres, all while meeting the need to improve the quality of life in urban areas.

Mobilize – which sees mobility as a set of services designed from the vehicle thanks to a technological platform – within the Renault Group – a pioneer in electric vehicles in Europe – plays a key role in the development of electric car-sharing services on a European scale. It takes part in projects with local economic players, such as Zity, conducted in partnership with Ferrovial Servicios, a Spanish public transport operator.

More than 1,300 electric vehicles are already available for car sharing via Zity by Mobilize throughout Europe. And that’s just the start!

Copyrights: Renault Communication, iStock