The carsharing service born in Marseille, Totem, wants to expand its network. The management of the start-up plans to operate in the form of franchise. An opportunity for dealers?
With 170 Twizy in Marseille and 30 in Montpellier for a few days, Totem is one of the rising car-sharing brands in the southern Mediterranean. An expansion that should continue with a total of 500 quadricycles in the Phocaean city, 100 units in Montpellier and as much in Avignon, soon. But growth that could also involve opening a franchise, told Journal of the Automobile Cyrille Estrade , the general manager of the start-up. ” We are interested in all cities and the deployment is more likely to accelerate by using the franchise “he analyzed the situation.
Who can be the partners? The model is open. For the founder, it is important to know his catchment area and local consumers. Dealers can be part of the contenders. Contacts have been made in this direction and interest is growing in the distribution networks. This is not devoid of meaning, considering that the technology belongs to Totem, a dealer of the diamond brand can then create an entity in charge of the equipment and management of the fleet.
A full time job for 40 cars
Another advantage for the franchisee, the economic model of Totem. The breakeven point is set at 450 euros per month and per vehicle, against 2,000 euros at the Autolib ‘. In addition, customers buy credits and lower their consumption by playing the game of recharging. Explanation: If three tokens are worth twenty-five minutes of renting (ie 3 euros), then by making the effort to reconnect the Twizy to a kiosk, users get two bonus chips. ” We control the associated logistics costs and we need a full-time equivalent for 40 cars. “, congratulates Cyrille Estrade, who believes that a terminal can suffice for two quadricycles. Low-cost at any point.
This vision of car sharing, he will submit to the City of Paris with the ambition to establish in the capital and its surroundings. ” We are relays in the nodes of means of transport “He still plans to prepare several thousand Twizy for the market that opens with the end of Autolib.At this day, he records 200 registrations a week in Marseille.Mostly men, often quite young, since the average age is barely over 30 years old. ” The Maif allowed us to insure the youngest drivers, with a unique franchise of 98 euros “, he illustrates some of the latest developments.