Vehicle electrification fans cried bitter tears earlier this month, when the startup Autonomy announced that it has added gasmobiles to its lineup of subscription service cars. The company’s EV journey is not over yet, though. Earlier today the company announced that it has also added the popular Volkswagen ID.4 to its roster. A New Subscription Service For EVs Drivers in the US routinely lease cars instead of buying them, but leases typically come with long term commitments, considerable paperwork, and credit restrictions. Autonomy offers a more easily accessible alternative to leasing, in the form of month-to-month subscription plans. Flexibility and accessibility are the key selling points, though a subscription plan could also be more economical than leasing or renting, depending on the driver’s situation (check out the options here). Autonomy’s founders are self-described auto retail, finance, and insurance “disruptors” Scott Painter and Georg Bauer, known for their NextCar venture among other transportation-related endeavors. In 2021, NextCar acquired the Autonomy brand and related assets from its former owner, Micro Focus (for the record, before Micro Focus entered the picture, Autonomy came under the Hewlett-Packard corporate umbrella). “The acquisition of Autonomy includes the primary global domain, Autonomy.com, along with a family of country and subdomain extensions as well as trademark applications, goodwill, and related brand IP,” Autonomy explains of itself. “Going to market with a compelling brand that people can relate to in tandem with a magical product and consumer experience creates a moat for any business and is the foundation for scaling this business profitably,” Painter added in a press statement dated November 4, 2021. Bauer also chipped in his two cents. “The ability to immediately become a global brand through our acquisition of an IP brand library that is inclusive of assets in over a dozen countries is an incredibly valuable strategic asset,” he said. Thousands Of EVs Things started off with a bang. Autonomy initially offered select subscriptions for the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, then quickly announced plans for scale-up. “The electric vehicle subscription company — the biggest in the USA — has ordered 23,000 electric vehicles from 17 different automakers in order to expand and diversify its subscription fleet,” CleanTechnica reported in August of 2022. That same month Autonomy also hooked up with the leading car dealer AutoNation. Although Autonomy provides an all-online experience at the subscription end, someone has to take care of the hardware, and AutoNation provided it with A-list backup. “As Autonomy’s ‘Dealer of Record,’ AutoNation will support Autonomy’s planned acquisition, over the next 12–18 months of up to 20,000 electric vehicles from automakers that produce the most sought-after electric vehicles,” CleanTechnica reported. Specifically, the partnership tasked AutoNation with vehicle preparation and delivery services for subscribers, alongside ongoing maintenance, repair, and reconditioning services for the Autonomy EV fleet. Autonomy Adds Gasmobiles Anyways, that was the plan. It made sense in 2022, but just one year later it almost fell to pieces, partly on account of the EV price war launched by Tesla CEO. The price cuts devalued vehicle fleets in one fell swoop. Hertz was most notably wounded, having once pledged to acquire 100,000 Teslas though eventually falling far short of that goal, and Autonomy also came in for its share of the fallout. Autonomy has stayed afloat despite the setback, with part of the business plan involving a diversion into the ICE (internal combustion engine) field, announced on September 9. The timing is rather curious, considering that US President Donald Trump’s war in Iran has sent gas prices through the roof. Still, many US drivers prefer the security of a gas tank, however much it costs to fill up. “The expanded lineup includes a range of gas-powered Ford vehicles including the Mustang, Ranger, F-150, Bronco Sport, Escape and Explorer,” Autonomy explains, adding that the move “signifies an important evolution of Autonomy’s product offering, which was previously exclusively focused on electric vehicles.” “Our customers are telling us they want more choice and expanding the lineup enables us to serve a broader range of drivers. While EVs remain a key part of our business, adding gas-powered vehicles gives customers more options to choose what works best for their lifestyle and needs,” explains Autonomy CEO Fred Weick, who was evidently informed by his longtime, senior level activities at Mercedes-Benz and Daimler. Weick joined Autonomy as CEO earlier this year. At present, the ICE lineup is only available for subscribers in California, with the in-state dealer Galpin Motors supporting the hardware pipeline. Near-term plans include partnerships with other dealers to support Autonomy services in Arizona, Florida, Texas, New York, North Carolina and Washington. More EVs For Autonomy The detour into gasmobiles could be a temporary blip on Autonomy’s screen if the war in Iran continues to spin out of control. In the meantime, the company’s EV fleet is still rolling. In the September 9 announcement Autonomy also emphasized that it will “continue to expand its vehicle portfolio in response to customer demand and opportunities with automotive manufacturers and dealer partners.” Sure enough, the company followed through earlier today, announcing that the ID.4 has joined the lineup. “The ID.4 vehicles join Autonomy’s fleet that already includes a wide variety of electric vehicles (EVs) including Tesla Model 3, Ford Mustang Mach-E, BMW i4, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Chevrolet Equinox EV,” Autonomy explained, while also reminding everyone that the options include newly ICE vehicles, namely, the Ford Mustang, Ranger, F-150, Bronco Sport, Escape and Explorer. Autonomy also took the opportunity to refresh everyone’s memory about its future plans. “The expansion follows the recent appointment of longtime Mercedes-Benz executive Fred Weick as Autonomy CEO,” Autonomy stated. “Weick, who brings more than 30 years of global automotive, fleet management and financial services experience, is leading Autonomy’s next stage of growth as the company expands its vehicle offerings and partnerships with automakers and dealers,” the startup added. Readers, what do you think? The gasmobile angle aside, Autonomy subscriptions can make access to an EV easier for anyone with a credit card and the ability to navigate online transactions. The system could help EV drivers stick with a zero emission ride when they move or relocate for short periods, including students and military among others. It could also help EV-curious drivers get over the hump with a relatively short-term commitment to the electric experience, ideally followed by purchasing an EV of their own. Photo: The startup Autonomy has added the Volkswagen ID.4 to its lineup of EVs, helping to make the EV experience more accessible (cropped, courtesy of Autonomy via email).
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