Mobility media releases 2024

The Mobility Cooperative is committed to the Science Based Targets initiative and is pledging to halve the company’s own CO2 emissions by 2030. On the road to net zero, the car sharing company is focusing primarily on the electrification of its red cars. 

Taking guidance from science-based targets, Mobility is aiming to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040 at the latest. This year, the Cooperative joined the Science Based Targets initiative, whilst it also committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. The aim of this treaty, which has been signed by 195 countries, is to limit global warming to 1.5°C. “By committing to the Science Based Targets initiative, Mobility is showing that we are prepared to assume responsibility and actively tackle the climate crisis,” explains CEO Roland Lötscher.

Planned reduction of 2’984 tonnes of CO2
Car sharing is an inherently sustainable product; it conserves resources and reduces the company’s ecological footprint as part of a circular economy. One Mobility car replaces eleven private cars. However, the Cooperative also causes greenhouse gas emissions and believes it has a responsibility to systematically reduce them. Mobility’s first step will be to reduce its emissions by 46% by 2030 compared with the base year of 2019 – which is equivalent to a permanent CO2 reduction of 2’984 tonnes. 

One in six cars is already powered by electricity
A reduction of 90% is needed to achieve the net-zero standard. In addition, any remaining emissions must be offset by negative emissions. “The most effective action we can take on our way to net zero is the electrification of our vehicle fleet, as fossil fuel vehicles currently account for 96% of the company’s emissions,” says Roland Beyeler, business development project manager. 

In the meantime, one in six of the company’s 3’000 vehicles is an electric car and many more vehicles and car parks will be electrified this year, too. By 2030, Mobility’s shared cars will be powered purely by electricity. Roland Beyeler: “But our mission goes beyond that. We want to achieve net zero emissions in all areas of our Cooperative.”

ABOUT SBTI
Science-based targets are a globally standardised and recognised method that companies can use to set realistic, measurable and, above all, scientifically-based climate protection targets. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) helps companies set science-based climate change targets in line with the provisions of the Paris Agreement. The SBTi is an initiative of the CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), the United Nations (UN Global Compact), the World Resources Institute (WRI) and WWF. Since its founding in 2015, some 7’500 companies around the world have set themselves science-based climate protection targets.

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CONTACT MOBILITY
Stefan Roschi, Communication & Media Officer
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The Mobility Cooperative generated a profit of CHF 1.4 million for 2023 with a turnover of CHF 84.2 million. The company is aiming to continue to promote car sharing as a sustainable form of mobility while heavily investing in electric mobility, technical staff and modernising its digital infrastructure.

Mobility generated a profit of CHF 1.4 million in 2023 with a slightly higher turnover of CHF 84.2 million (+0.3%) in comparison to the previous year. This result has exceeded expectations because the cooperative was up against a tough economic environment with a multitude of additional expenses. The profit and loss account was weighed down by the persistently high price of electric cars, the charging infrastructure, digitalisation costs and the ridepooling pilot project in the city of Zurich, among other things. Furthermore, Mobility invested in its technical staff with the company now employing 236 individuals (206 FTE). The financial result does, however, bring decisively positive news thanks to the sale of investments and higher interest income. “We knew that 2023 would be a challenging year and we are more than pleased with this result,” remarks Roland Lötscher, Mobility CEO.

Increase in private individuals and corporate clients
The carsharing company once again recorded an increase in its client base; 277'000 (an increase of 16'000) individuals now use around 3'000 vehicles across Switzerland, 500 of which are now electric cars. The number of members of the cooperative has also risen to 75'800 (+1'000). Businesses are increasingly using shared cars too. 5'350 companies (+3%) were using Mobility’s red vehicles by the end of 2023.

Using the new app for an improved experience
Last year, Mobility was far from idle and invested heavily to make carsharing even easier and better. The new Mobility app, which offers practical functions such as a price calculator, interactive maps and a simple way to send damage reports, is one example. The app was awarded many prizes shortly after it was launched. At the same time, Mobility has joined forces with other providers of shared mobility alternatives in 2023 to provide customers with attractive additional offers.  

Investments to affect coming profit and loss accounts
Despite the expansion of e-mobility losing steam in Switzerland due to the tough environment, Mobility will continue to install charging stations in car parks and electrify vehicles and make corresponding investments into this year. The target of travelling using only electricity by 2030 remains the same. But this is not the only transformation that the cooperative is undergoing. The digital systems and processes will continue to be improved, which will weigh down the profit and loss account over the next three years. “We are deliberately making these investments now so that we can keep growing sustainably in the future,” says Roland Lötscher. “Switzerland needs an extensive and reliable carsharing offer to make it as easy as possible for people to wave goodbye to private cars.” 

You can find out more about the 2023 fiscal year as well as Mobility’s detailed financial report here:
companyreport.mobility.ch

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CONTACT MOBILITY
Stefan Roschi, Communication & Media Officer
Tel. 041 248 21 57, presse(at)mobility.ch

A recent survey has shown that car ownership in Switzerland is falling dramatically, whilst the use of shared mobility services is on the rise. Mobility’s own figures point to a corresponding generational shift, with the number of users under the age of 28 having doubled over the last three years. 

Mobility’s customers are getting younger. The number of Mobility users has soared to more than a quarter of a million over the last few years. One age group in particular – the under 28s – has grown disproportionately in that time, doubling in size since 2020. Young car sharers have never been more visible. 

Is the number of car-free households set to double?
The fact that young people are increasingly opting for car sharing tallies with the findings of recent studies. A survey conducted by consulting firm Deloitte, the results of which were published in January 2024, found that the number of car-free households in Switzerland could double over the next decade, and expects the demand for on-demand and shared mobility services to grow massively in that period. A quarter of all participants in the Deloitte survey reported that they are already subscribed to a shared mobility service, increasing to 30% in the 34 or younger age group. These findings also tally with the results of the representative study on mobility conducted by Sotomo a few months prior, which concluded that “car ownership is less important to young people in urban environments.” Sotomo’s research also found that this younger demographic is particularly interested in car sharing, as “younger drivers have grown up with these types of offers, unlike older generations.”

Young people are opting for e-cars
Younger Mobility users behave similarly to the rest of the cooperative’s customers for the most part. One thing that does set them apart, however, is that younger users generally only spend four hours on the road per journey, which is slightly less than the average journey length. They also favour Mobility’s Economy category, which they choose in practically every other reservation, and opt for e-cars more often than other age groups.

Under 28s drive on the best terms
The Mobility Cooperative is aiming to convince young people of the benefits of car sharing even before they buy their vehicle. This is why drivers under the age of 28 can make the most of our mobilityYOUNG offer, with no monthly subscription costs once the user pays a one-off registration fee, so they can drive on the best terms. This offer has been a roaring success since it was introduced at the end of 2022, as shown by the ever-growing number of users.

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Stefan Roschi, Communication & Media Officer
Tel. 041 248 21 57, presse(at)mobility.ch

An ever-increasing share of Mobility cars are now electrically powered – in spite of the numerous regulatory and organisational challenges this involves. Now the cooperative is rolling out its 500th e-vehicle, and just this once has deliberately opted for a change from red.

Car sharing pioneer Mobility now celebrates a symbolic milestone on the way to electrifying its fleet: it has just placed its 500th electric car at the Akara Tower in Baden. "We see this as another landmark along the way to electrifying our range of vehicles," says Thomas Schmid, Head of Market. “Mobility is facing major challenges in this transformation process and, together with our station partners, we welcome every additional electric car we can make available to users.” 

For once, the VW ID.3 in question – available in Mobility’s Economy category – doesn't sport Mobility’s hallmark red finish, but instead features a special vinyl wrap designed by the artists’ collective REAL Crew to showcase the theme of electrification. The idea is to add a splash of colour to Swiss roads while at the same time making a statement about the mobility transition.

Far above the Swiss average
Mobility is on course to switching its entire fleet to electric power by 2030. This means it is an active contributor to modern, sustainable mobility – especially given that, even using fossil-based fuels, car sharing reduces CO2 emissions in addition to saving space and resources. Around 17% of Mobility’s 3'000 vehicles now run on electric power. For comparison: in 2023, only 3.3% of cars on Switzerland’s roads were purely electric.

Annual e-kilometres have increased tenfold 
Initial scepticism surrounding electric propulsion seems to have receded, at least when it comes to car sharing: Mobility customers have now covered a total of 13.5 million kilometres in electric vehicles – roughly 35 times the distance to the moon. The indication here is that increasing availability of electric cars results in more widespread use. The number of e-kilometres covered each year has increased tenfold in the past five years. It’s also interesting to note that e-cars tend to appeal more to male users than to women on average, though this difference becomes less marked, the younger the user group.

Electrification – a political issue 
E-car sharing is an important means of future-proofing the viability of mobility in Switzerland – ecologically, socially and economically. But a political and regulatory framework is required that actively promotes this development. For example, as a tenant of the 3'000 or so parking spaces where its vehicles are stationed, Mobility is dependent on the goodwill of its landlords when it comes to electrification – a “right to charge” throughout Switzerland, as exists in Germany, would have a positive impact on the transition. It’s also important for Mobility to have remote control of third-party charge points, with free access to the data. This is the only way the fleet operator can ensure intelligent charging and capacity management. 

“Switzerland still has a lot of catching up to do here,” says Krispin Romang of the electromobility association Swiss eMobility. “There’s been no subsidising of the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles at federal level to date, and no moves have been made to introduce the “right to charge”. In view of this, Mobility’s pace of transition to electric is more than impressive.”

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CONTACT MOBILITY
Stefan Roschi, Communication & Media Officer
Tel. 041 248 21 57, presse(at)mobility.ch