Mobility media releases 2018

Following a successful test, Mobility is expanding its One-Way offer to include places such as Basel Airport, Olten, St. Gallen or Winterthur. From spring 2019, one-way journeys will be possible between 30 stations. The potential is huge.

Travel from A to B – and simply leave the car where it is: Customers have repeatedly expressed this wish to Mobility. A corresponding pilot project went well, which is why the cooperative has now permanently integrated Mobility One-Way into its automated system. Managing Director Patrick Marti is pleased: "One-way trips make Mobility even more versatile and convenient. Our customers have a choice from the widest range of mobility models to suit their needs at their fingertips." One-Way is particularly suitable for transportation, trips to the airport or journeys when public transport services are limited.

Continuous expansion
In order to make Mobility One-Way accessible to more people, the company is significantly expanding the corresponding network. The following stations are now included: Basel Airport, Köniz Railway Station, Olten Railway Station, Rotkreuz Suurstoffi, St. Gallen Railway Station, Sursee Railway Station, Winterthur Railway Station and Zug Railway Station in addition to the existing stations (Zurich Airport, Basel Railway Station, Lucerne Railway Station, Solothurn Railway Station, Zurich Altstetten Railway Station and Zurich Main Railway Station). Mobility is aiming to expand to 30 stations, including in western Switzerland, by spring 2019. After this, it will gauge the demand for further expansion.

The goal is flexibility
Mobility One-Way completes the classic, location-based car sharing offer as well as the Mobility scooter, which allows people to make one-way journeys within an urban area. Separate cars are still circulating in the One-Way network. However, the vision is that the Mobility system will be so flexible one day that cars can be used for all types of Mobility models and routes.

Not much more expensive than any other journey
With Mobility One-Way, kilometres and hours are billed at the same prices as the rest of the Mobility offer (estate: CHF 0.80/km, CHF 3/h), plus a surcharge of between CHF 7 and CHF 29. This surcharge varies according to route length, season and load.

Countless cars in Swiss car dealers stand idle at all hours of the day. Mobility wants to exploit this potential and fit them out with car-sharing technology. If a test run in cooperation with the automotive industry is successful, the principle is set to be widely implemented. The Auto Gewerbe Verband Schweiz (AGVS) is the first partner on board.

Mobility’s aim is to become the largest national provider of individual mobility services in Switzerland. Following the launch of new services such as the Mobility scooter or the Mobility Carpool lift-sharing platform, a new concept is at the starting gates: the incorporation of third-party vehicles into the Mobility fleet. The cooperative will be equipping partner dealers’ cars with car-sharing technology for this purpose, allowing Mobility to expand its network of stations and boost its level of flexibility, as Patrick Marti, Managing Director of Mobility, explains: “We’re coming to new stations in attractive urban locations and rural areas where we would not place vehicles ourselves.” He claims that it should now be possible to respond quickly to increasing demand “such as by expanding our offer in Ticino depending on the season.” Nothing will change for customers in terms of use: The cars will be completely integrated into the Mobility offer, with prices, insurance and maintenance corresponding to standards.

Good for the environment and your wallet
By using existing cars instead of buying new ones, Mobility is optimising the efficiency of resources, benefiting not only the environment but partner dealers too: The AGVS garages have thousands of vehicles which are often idle at all times of day. “Each franc that they can earn from them is therefore good”, explains Urs Wernli, President of the AGVS. The environment for dealers is also changing rapidly. “By cooperating with Mobility, dealers are showing that they want to build bridges and are open to new forms of mobility.” The AGVS is the first of several possible organisations to join forces with Mobility.

One-year test phase
Mobility is launching a one-year test run to gather experience and customer feedback. AGVS plans to add some 50 dealers in the first half of the year alone, followed by an ongoing increase in the number. Various experimental forms are in the pipeline: from pure garage locations to mixed existing mobility stations. Managing Director of Mobility, Patrick Marti, is convinced of the concept: “We’re turning stationary vehicles into moving vehicles.” This makes sense in every respect. We also believe that the potential is equally high.” He claims that, if the test is successful, the offer will be widely implemented.

The Mobility Board of Directors has appointed Roland Lötscher as the organisation’s new Managing Director. He will be taking over the reins at the Cooperative from 2019 onwards.

Roland Lötscher offers a wide range of professional experience built up over many years. The 50-year-old has spent most of his career to date working for telecommunications companies both in Switzerland and abroad. He has held various managerial positions in marketing, business development and strategy development at organisations such as Swisscom, Cablecom and – most recently – Zain. Chairman of the Board of Directors Frank Boller believes Mobility will benefit from Mr Lötscher’s knowledge of process-oriented and technology-driven business models. "We are confident that Mobility will further consolidate its strong market position under Roland Lötscher and be able to drive its services forward. Our aim is to establish ourselves as Switzerland’s leading provider of individual mobility solutions."

Roland Lötscher will take over from Patrick Marti, who has decided to take on a new challenge in the retail industry, in January 2019.

With "Best Price", Mobility is reducing the costs of long journeys from December. The company is thus reacting to the results of a customer survey.

Mobility wants to make its services as straightforward as possible. Thanks to Best Price, from 12 December prices will be capped for long journeys of up to 24 hours and 200 kilometres. The maximum price payable will vary depending on the vehicle category and – as is usual with Mobility – will include fuel and insurance. So, for example, a member of the cooperative will now pay a maximum of CHF 110 for a Budget car, which equates to a savings potential of CHF 48. Any extra kilometres or hours will simply be charged at the standard rate. Managing Director Patrick Marti explains: "With Best Price, we are making long bookings more attractive again. That is the express wish of our customers, and we are happy to comply." The company will be carrying out customer surveys in the next few months to see whether the new model has been well received. "We will then be able to make any improvements swiftly," Marti adds.

Mobility Best Price replaces Economy Packages
Last year, the cooperative introduced a new pricing model – and with it Economy Packages which have to be pre-booked and which were intended to cushion the higher costs of single, long journeys. However, only 5% of all customers actually made use of the Economy Packages. As shown by a recent survey, they were regarded as too complicated. By introducing Best Price, Mobility has now answered the call for a more flexible, simpler model and for cheaper long trips. "Best Price kills several birds with one stone," says Marti, "as it applies to every reservation, kicks in automatically and can save a lot of money. We are confident it will be popular."

Save up to CHF 96
Emotion vehicles offer the greatest savings potential of up to CHF 96 per day. This potential is multiplied correspondingly on multi-day journeys. Members of the cooperative enjoy an extra benefit over annual or trial subscriptions to the tune of CHF 10 in each case; Business and Click & Drive customers are excluded.

Electric scooters have now been on the road in Zurich for five months. Mobility’s interim assessment of the scheme is positive. 4’300 customers have signed up to date.

200 electric scooters have been distributed throughout the entire city of Zurich since April. They can be located and booked via app and left freely at any marked public two-wheeler/motorcycle parking facilities after use. Mobility is satisfied with how the scheme has got underway, as Communication Officer Patrick Eigenmann confirms: "4’300 customers have signed up for Mobility Scooter to date. We’re particularly pleased to see that they understand how the system works and which area they’re allowed to park in." According to Eigenmann, there has rarely been any need to re-park the scooters, and there have only been very few cases of minor damage. "The only thing we’re still working hard on is to improve communication between the scooters and the system," adds Eigenmann.

Scooters used for short distances
A recent survey of 750 scooter users indicates the following: firstly, the Mobility scooters are mainly used for shorter runs of up to five kilometres. Secondly, there is an even balance between one-way trips and return trips. And thirdly, one in two trips involves a combination with public transportation. As Eigenmann explains: "Thanks to the combined transportation options, many Mobility customers prefer to do without a privately-owned vehicle. So the more we can promote schemes such as Mobility Scooter, the better it will be for the environment."

Expansion: decision to be taken at the end of the year
Zurich is Switzerland’s Mobility capital with 30’000 customers: this is where the cooperative aims to gain valuable experience in the field of electric scooters. At the end of 2018 a decision will be taken as to whether it will expand and if so, which city will be next.

Managing Director Patrick Marti (37) is to leave the Mobility Cooperative at the end of 2018. The Board of Directors has begun looking for his successor.

Patrick Marti has spent the past two years making Mobility fit for the mobility of the future. With him at the helm, the mobility service provider has launched a wide range of services and projects, including the "Mobility Carpool" ride-sharing platform, the "Mobility Scooter" electric scooters, and a pilot project involving self-driving shuttles in the town of Zug.

2019 will find the 37-year-old focusing on a development opportunity in the retail sector, where he has spent most of his career. Frank Boller, chairman of Mobility's board of directors, comments: "We very much regret Patrick Marti's decision. Under his leadership, key moves were made to transition the company from a car sharing service to a mobility provider. We thank Patrick Marti for his outstanding contribution and wish him every success going forward." The board of directors will be carefully considering the question of his successor over the coming months.

Whether in a privately-owned vehicle or a Mobility car: the new Mobility Carpool app provides a fast and simple way of connecting drivers and passengers. This reduces transportation costs while at the same time protecting the environment.

Swiss motorists are lone travellers: the average number of people riding in a car is just 1.5, while in commuter traffic the figure is even lower at just 1.1. To put it another way: when 100 people drive back and forth between Lucerne and Zurich every day, they do so in 90 vehicles. This makes no sense at all – whether ecologically or economically. For this reason, Mobility is now launching its ride-sharing app "Mobility Carpool". It can be used not just for car-sharing vehicles but for privately-owned cars, too. Managing Director Patrick Marti is pleased to announce the new scheme: "It's a win-win situation. Drivers cut their costs, passengers can move quickly and economically from A to B – and it's good for the environment because there's less traffic on the roads." Mobility benefits as a company, too. "The more varied our range of services, the more enthusiastic our customers are. This is why we aim to offer the most diverse types of mobility and also promote combined mobility with public transportation." Mobility Carpool supplements the company's classic car sharing scheme as well as its free-floating models Mobility-Scooter and Catch a Car.

Drivers can charge from CHF 2.40 to CHF 14.40 per passenger
Mobility Carpool is just as suitable for regular runs from A to B – such as commuter rides to work – as it is for one-off trips. Rates are fixed and vary according to the distance covered, with passengers paying between CHF 3.00 (up to 10 kilometres) and CHF 18 (from 150 kilometres). Of this amount, 80% goes to the driver, while Mobility uses the remainder to cover the cost of providing the app.

A system based on trust
Mobility will be applying a number of measures to create trust. Firstly, users can rate each other publicly. Secondly, the app requires a profile picture to be uploaded. Thirdly, passengers can view the driver's registration number at any time. And fourthly, the other person's telephone number is only visible when a ride has been definitively booked.

Mobility will be adding 70 Toyota Yaris Hybrid to its fleet by the end of the year – a car that combines an electric motor with a petrol engine. In this way, Mobility continues to pursue its strategy of moving away from diesel.

Vehicles have to meet rigorous criteria in order to be included in the Mobility fleet. These include an outstanding score on the EuroNCAP car safety test, a high level of energy efficiency and ease of use. The Toyota Yaris 1.5 Hybrid meets all these requirements. With a fuel consumption of 3.3 litres per 100 kilometres and a CO2 emissions level of 75 grammes per kilometre, it is well below the average for new cars in Switzerland (5.8 litres/134 grammes). "We aim to offer our customers cars that are both popular and sustainable," explains Mobility spokesman Patrick Eigenmann. So on the one hand, purchasing policy is geared towards general market demand, he says. "In our ten categories we offer models to suit every taste – including the compact VW Up, the trendy Audi Q3, the electric Renault Zoe, the Mercedes Vito van and the Audi A3 convertible. Last year alone we purchased 565 new vehicles." In addition to this, he says, Mobility always chooses model versions that are as ecologically compatible as possible. "This is why the emissions level of our fleet as a whole is one third lower than the Swiss average for new cars – something we're definitely proud of," says Eigenmann.

700 diesel models to be replaced
Mobility’s new Toyota Yaris will gradually replace the diesel model Renault Clio as well as the hybrid version of the Honda Jazz. In this way, the company is consistently acting on its decision announced in January 2017 to replace 700 diesel vehicles in the Economy category with vehicles powered by other means. This reason for this is that in the past, manufacturers have failed to provide transparent information on the environmental impact of diesel engines. The 700 vehicles account for nearly a quarter of the Mobility fleet as a whole.

From now on there are 200 electric Mobility scooters available in Zurich for trips from A to B. This will enhance the city's transportation facilities and reduce traffic, as emphasised by both Mobility Managing Director Patrick Marti and city councillor Filippo Leutenegger.

Today Mobility launched Switzerland's first large-scale scooter sharing scheme in Zurich. Customers can locate and book 200 red, electrically powered Etrix S02 scooters via app and leave them at any marked public two-wheeler/motorcycle parking facility after use. Mobility Managing Director Patrick Marti sees this as a major step into the future: "The more varied our range of transportation, the more customers we will be able to attract to shared mobility. This in turn will impact positively on the traffic situation." Studies indicate that the mobility behaviour of car sharers is changing – more thought given to car use, more use of public transport – and that one Mobility vehicle replaces ten privately owned cars. "Scooter sharing will enhance these traffic-reducing effects," says Marti. City councillor Filippo Leutenegger also welcomes the scheme: "A space-saving, quiet means of transport has to be an advantage – not just for users but for the city as a whole. App-based sharing schemes also advance Zurich technologically as a smart city."

Zurich is the sharing capital of Switzerland
It's no coincidence that the premiere of scooter sharing is happening in Zurich: Mobility has more than 30’000 registered customers in the city. They can use the e-scooters providing they hold a driving licence of at least the A1 category. Helmets, safety vests and disposable hygiene helmet liners are provided with each scooter, while Mobility takes care of maintenance, insurance and battery charging using green power. "The level of service is the same as for our cars. We take care of everything for customers," says Patrick Marti. The operating zone in which the scooters can be parked covers the entire city of Zurich except for Affoltern, Leimbach, Witikon and Seebach. The scooters can be opened using the Mobility app, Mobility Card or SwissPass.

Emmi, SBB and Allianz are on board as partners
Emmi is involved as a premium partner with its product Caffè Latte. As Emmi spokesperson Sibylle Umiker says: "The Mobility e-scooters perfectly match our often young, urban Emmi Caffè Latte customers. We think it's a brilliant idea to introduce the issue of CO2 reduction to this target group in such a practical way." While Allianz takes care of providing comprehensive insurance for scooter users, SBB is supporting the new scheme by providing combined mobility – i.e. efficient dovetailing of sharing schemes and public transportation in order to create contemporary, networked mobility options.

In 2017, the Mobility Group continued to pursue its strategy of developing from a car sharing specialist to become a comprehensive mobility provider. As such, preliminary investments in new business areas dominated the 2017 financial statement: profits amounted to CHF 2.04 million while net revenue was at CHF 76.2 million.

In 2017 the Mobility Group invested in its future: it pushed ahead with establishing and expanding new business areas such as scooter sharing and self-driving cars. This involved extensive preliminary investments in IT and human resources. This factor combined with increased operating costs and vehicle expenditure (in particular higher fuel prices) made for a net annual profit of CHF 2.04 million (prior year: CHF 3.4 million). Meanwhile net revenue increased to CHF 76.2 million (+0.2%), and operating cashflow to CHF 20.5 million (+15.6%). Mobility Managing Director Patrick Marti: "As a cooperative we have the advantage of being able to act with a long-term perspective in mind. We’re building the Mobility of the future – a Mobility with a broad range of transportation options that will attract as many people as possible." One of a number of steps along this path is the launch of a scooter sharing scheme in Zurich on 19 April 2018.

Constant increase in customer numbers
With a continuously optimised vehicle range, attractive stations and a wide choice of subscription and use options, Mobility is attracting an increasing number of enthusiasts. As Patrick Marti explains: "177’100 customers were using our cars by the end of 2017, including more than 4’700 companies. They all rely on our mobility services on a round-the-clock basis." He says he is particularly pleased to welcome the 3’200 new cooperative members. "Together with all the other 63’200 cooperative members, this is what lays the foundation for our future development."

The scheme gets underway on 19 April 2018: Mobility customers will be able to use 200 red electric scooters for spontaneous trips from A to B in the city of Zurich. Sign up once, look for a free nearby scooter using the app, place your booking – and off you go to your destination at a rate of 25 centimes per minute.

Mobility is the first provider to offer a free-floating scooter sharing scheme in the city of Zurich. 200 red electric scooters with a yellow number (max. speed 45 km/h) will be distributed throughout the city in marked public parking areas. Two helmets and safety vests are provided with each scooter. Bookings are placed without prior reservation, usage is charged by the minute and the scooters have to be parked within the city district in public two wheeler/motorcycle parking facilities. The Mobility app provides details of where these parking areas are located.

All costs are covered
Mobility scooters are approved for use by up to two people at a time, and anyone with Category A1 entered in their driving licence is eligible to ride them. As with car sharing, users don't have to concern themselves with anything else: Mobility takes care of charging the scooter battery as well as service and insurance. The batteries run on environment-friendly green energy ("nature made star" – hydroelectric/solar power, 50% each). Road safety is important to Mobility, too: the company supports customers who would like to refresh their scooter skills with an instructor by providing a one-off ride voucher worth CHF 30.

A consistent move into the future
Mobility Managing Director Patrick Marti looks forward to the new challenge: "Scooter sharing is another step along our path to becoming a diverse and well-established mobility provider. We strongly believe the scheme will be popular." He says that by providing the ecologically compatible electric scooters, Mobility is also seeking to relieve the city's traffic situation and boost public transportation. "Every shared scooter helps reduce the number of private scooters on the road and ideally the number of private cars, too. What is more, sharing schemes are ideal for combination with public transportation," adds Marti.