by Renault Group

“My car, my freedom!” A slogan that resonates less with today’s younger generations than when it first appeared in the late 1960s. While buying a car is not yet out of fashion, it is no longer the only option on offer. At least that is what is suggested by a recent Kantar study on the aspirations of Generation Z, more likely to opt for car sharing (preferred by 14% of those under 25) and carpooling (22%) solution than their elders, a preference influenced by their purchasing power and growing ecological awareness. Faced with the climate emergency, the automotive industry is increasingly taking into account the impact its business has on the planet and is constantly seeking to reinventing itself. But the deepest upheavals are not necessarily where they are most expected.

“We talk a lot about mobility going through a technological revolution, but the real revolution lies in the ways vehicles are used,” said Lionel JAILLET, Dacia Product and Performance Director.

A new concept of mobility

This new situation is seeing adapted offers coming to the fore. Such as Mobilize, the Renault Group brand building on car-sharing, opt-in opt-out vehicle rental, and subscription solutions to invent the future of mobility.

“We are trying to foster more vehicle use, with less focus on ownership,” explained Sophie BLANC, in charge of Mobility Services at Mobilize. “It tends to involve light vehicles such as the Duo electric two-seater quadricycle [four-wheel vehicle] or the utility version Bento (available from spring 2024), that are part of a greater effort to constantly reduce one’s carbon footprint, while taking up less space.” Another major challenge for such offers to be both environmentally friendly and profitable is when it comes to optimising the occupancy rate of vehicles (in other words, the number of people on board). It is worth noting that more than half of trips of under 20 km long are currently made with a single person in the car.

A shared but appealing vehicle

Future mobility will be mostly electric; above all, it will be just what it takes (no more, no less). “Most people drive at low speeds on congested roads,” said Thomas Ehrmann, Chief Design Officer at Mobilize. So, in urban area for example there is no point in rolling out bigger and faster cars that can reach 100km/h in just a few seconds when a lighter model is more than enough.

“These vehicles are simpler, with a minimalist style, and designed to be robust and shock resistant while still holding onto their appeal,” Thomas Ehrmann described, mentioning that the Duo model was inspired by street culture from the 1980s and 1990s. He also highlights how interacting with the brand’s vehicles is a playful experience that harnesses smartphone technology to unlock the doors, check its battery level, and more.

Mobility “at just the right scale” has become Dacia’s philosophy. As Lionel Jaillet described it, the brand embodies “a desire to get back to basics and to sufficiency, to turn away from excessive consumption and always wanting more”, advocating in favour of vehicles that are designed for and adapted to specific uses. Much like the Dacia Spring, the lightest full-electric city car in its category, ideal for commuting.

A new vision of freedom

The revolution in how vehicles are being used is going to make mobility — including electric mobility — ultimately more affordable. At Dacia, we offer “mobility objects that are both modern and accessible”, ones that “truly serve our [customers’] lives,” said Lionel Jaillet. While the current line-up, which currently includes electric, hybrid and petrol vehicles, have long been made for “those who could not afford to buy a new car”, they now also appeal to those people looking to “get back to basics”.

As for Mobilize, “the brand is positioning itself as an accelerator of the transition to electric mobility”, said Sophie Blanc. It means making it cheaper but also more open to younger users, with teenagers being “a growing target”. In fact, Mobilize will also roll out a version of the Duo with a top speed capped at 45 km/h for people over 14 without a driving licence.

While such offers are mainly for urban drivers for the time being, “nothing will stop us from looking into ways to roll them out in towns and cities with lower population density,” explained Sophie Blanc. “Electric mobility is not only for urban residents. Spring has also been a success in rural areas,” said Lionel Jaillet. Electric mobility for all, adapted to everyone’s needs. What if that was the future definition of freedom itself?

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