6 clever shared mobility marketing campaigns we love
April 19, 2023
min. read
Thirty years ago, the car was king. A lot has changed since then, and people increasingly see the value in environmentally friendlier micro-mobility transit options. All you have to do is follow the money – by 2030, according to McKinsey, the shared mobility sector will have generated $1 trillion in spending.
All this means that micro-mobility is a serious business, and like all serious businesses, they have to think about marketing themselves. We've pulled together some of the most creative, fun, and effective shared mobility marketing campaigns out there. See what companies are doing, how they're addressing their audiences, and get inspired for your own campaigns.
Lime - break up with your ride
Mobility vehicles: electric scooters, e-bikes, e-mopeds
Campaign geography: US, UK, Germany
About the campaign:
Lime, a micromobility company present in 150 cities in 30 countries, launched their “Break up with your ride” campaign in the summer of 2022, offering car owners incentives up to $3,500 in value to stop using their cars for a certain amount of time and choose shared mobility options instead.
They highlighted several of the downsides of using cars – ranging from environmental factors to sitting in traffic – to convince the drivers of a need for a break. The subtext, while not explicitly states, was that shared mobility is better for the environment and also eliminates many headaches associated with car ownership.
Lime timed the campaign to coincide with Earth Day, and drivers were able to pledge a certain amount of time that they would go car-free. Participants were able to win Lime merch, gift cards, an electric bike, and Lime rides up to $3,500 in value.
Why we love it:
Many shared mobility users are already carless. That's why shared vehicles are an attractive service – it helps them get around. What makes this campaign particularly effective is that they're going after a new segment – car owners. By tying it to Earth Day and positioning the “breakup” as an environmental act of kindness, they're able to tap into car owners' altruism and concern for the environment, rather than trying to sell them on shared mobility. Thus, the use of Lime's e-vehicles is seen as simply a nice side effect – a win-win for both.
Fun fact:
This campaign has proven to be so successful, that we’re seeing the same concept applied by other micromobility services like Bolt’s “Break up to break free” campaign.
Bolt - the first scooter for cats
Mobility vehicles: e-scooters, ride-hailing, car sharing
Campaign geography: global
About the campaign:
The branding team at Bolt, the Estonian-based micromobility service, saw a recurring trend – of street cats enjoying relaxing on their scooters' base (many photos being shared by Bolt users), which is black and warms up under the sun. They jumped on the observation, and put together a cardboard scratching post that looks just like a bolt scooter, complete with scratch pads and comfy cushions for optimal feline lounging.
The process was documented and shared on social channels – ranging from a series of photos on Linkedin to a video on TikTok. The posts have generated considerable engagement, the Linkedin post has over 2,000 responses and the TikTok has over 291,000 views – currently their most viewed video on their platform (the average views being around 5-6k). Their post includes a post scriptum message and link to a local Estonian animal shelter with cats looking for new homes.
Why we love it:
It's just a bit of good fun! Who doesn't love a wholesome campaign that has no explicit sales or profit motives, and with fun photos of cats, no less.
This is a masterful use of client-generated content (the cat photos), and the fun of going the extra mile, constructing a cat scratching post. The inclusion of a CTA (call to action) to support the local animal shelter gives the fun post a deeper, socially responsible message, and by repurposing the content for various social platforms they're able to spread their message to their users and demonstrate their brand values as well.
Uber - Keep Ukraine Moving
Mobility vehicles: ride-hailing
Campaign geography: global
About the campaign:
In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a country in which Uber was present, Ukrainian Uber drivers started to use the app to help evacuate citizens in need. Uber stepped up to support these initiatives – opening up the platform for global donations to buy much-needed ambulances, and Uber itself committed to match donations up to $1M.
Within the scope of the campaign, Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Tomin documented some of the drivers making the perilous journeys to evacuate stranded Ukrainians, and published the series on Youtube.
The results of the campaign include over 100,000 trips and $5M in donations from global Uber users. Uber is involved in transporting key support personnel and transporting, evacuating, and conserving artwork and archives.
Why we love it:
While micromobility businesses are just that – businesses – Uber demonstrated leadership in a time of crisis, mobilizing their resources in order to support Ukrainians in times of need and generating support using their global platform.
Transportation is undeniably a part of critical infrastructure, and Uber was able to play a major role in making sure that their systems, which were already in place could be made use of. While the campaign was not profit-driven, it showed the brand's humanity, a value that likely won't be forgotten by many who have been impacted by the war in Ukraine.
Turo - Find your drive
Mobility vehicles: car sharing
Geography: USA, UK, Australia
About the campaign:
Turo's “Find Your Drive” campaign highlights the unique pairing between person and car, matching a car's colour and “vibe” with a correspondingly dressed individual. The subtext communicates that your choice of vehicle is a direct embodiment of a person's style. Turo, which lets users choose from various vehicles (including fun, funky, and exclusive models), is saying that there is something that will suit everyone.
Why we love it:
The campaign is clever in its simplicity – no massive production budgets were required to convey the main message, which in this case is that whatever your personality and preference, there will be a car for hire that you’ll love.
These images could be repurposed for a variety of platforms, ranging from billboards to online content. The diversity in people photographed ensured that the campaign spoke to a diverse array of people, thus accessing a wider audience.
Lime - sh*tty scooters
Mobility vehicles: electric scooters, e-bikes, e-mopeds
Campaign geography: London, Paris
About the campaign:
While electric scooter use is on the rise, they remain a point of contention in some cities more than in others. To address this concern, Lime created a series of print adverts showcasing some of the main negative opinions regarding electric scooters, with some of the posters reading “Sh*tty scooters!”, “Scooters really p*ss me off” and “These scooters are such a f*cking pain”.
The goal was to show the community that they were listening and that they were doing something to discourage bad behaviour, while also hoping to educate the public, their users, on respectful scooter use in the city.
Why we love it:
This campaign is eye-catching and makes waves thanks to its shock-value. More than that, it is also a simple yet highly effective way to address the concerns of society-at-large, while also subconsciously teaching their riders about scooter etiquette.
Felyx mopeds – #felyxgreenfavorites and #felyxhotspots
Mobility vehicles: e-mopeds
Campaign geography: Rotterdam
About the campaign:
Felyx, an e-moped sharing platform present in The Netherlands and Belgium, launched a social media campaign making use of hashtags to showcase the places you can go with Felyx mopeds. Two hashtag campaigns have been launched, one being #FelyxGreenFavorites, the other #Felyxhotspots.
They hosted photoshoots to create a series of images demonstrating interesting destinations within a moped’s ride, as well as different ways to live a greener lifestyle by using Felyx mopeds – from enjoying nature to visiting plant shops.
Why we love it:
The social campaign simultaneously gives people ideas as to how to use the mopeds, and by combining it with environmental messages, they increase eco-conscious individuals’ likelihood of remembering to choose Felyx over other mobility options. By providing a variety of destinations, they’re able to get their users’ creative juices flowing, and thus boosting demand for their services. What’s more is that this is an incredibly simple campaign to execute, and provides social media content – something your brand requires anyway.
Shared mobility marketing campaigns can be as unique as your brand
These examples show us that there are no rules when it comes to shared mobility marketing campaigns. Simple is often impactful, and the campaigns don't always have to be profit-driven. You can use your campaigns to promote your brand values and personality, thus attracting clients that are on the same wavelength. In the end, they'll become your most loyal customers.
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Blog
From phone tap to smooth ride: the tech stack behind modern shared mobility
🛴📡 That smooth ride you just took? It was powered by a whole ecosystem of hardware and software you never saw. From IoT modules in the vehicle to real-time dashboards and rider apps, shared mobility relies on a solid tech stack to stay online, secure, and profitable.
December 2, 2025
min. read
You open an app, spot a scooter on the map, and within seconds it unlocks with a click. You ride off, expecting the battery to be charged, the brakes to work, and the whole process to feel effortless. From the very first ride, shared mobility set the standard: vehicles should always be nearby, ready to go, and the whole experience should feel seamless. What most riders never think about, though, is the complex mix of hardware and software working in the background to make every smooth ride possible.
Why the tech matters
Technology is the baseline for the shared mobility business model. Every ride depends on it. Vehicles need IoT hardware to lock, unlock, and report their status. Connectivity has to be stable so operators always know where assets are and what condition they’re in.
IoT, or the Internet of Things, is the technology that connects physical devices – like scooters, bikes, or cars – to the internet. Each vehicle contains a small embedded device (the IoT module) that sends and receives data through mobile networks. This connection allows operators to remotely control key functions such as locking, unlocking, location tracking, and firmware updates. In short, IoT is what makes a vehicle “smart” and manageable at scale.
On the software side, riders expect apps that feel instant and intuitive, while operators rely on dashboards for fleet health, pricing, and support. Add in the realities of theft, battery swaps, downtime, and local regulations, and the stakes become clear. Without a reliable tech stack, even small failures – a scooter that won’t unlock or a payment that stalls – can quickly break user trust and hurt the business.
Where it began
Over the years, several manufacturers have entered the shared mobility IoT space, offering different hardware configurations, network technologies, and integrations. Companies like Teltonika (Lithuania), Comodule (Estonia), Invers (Germany), OMNI (China) and others produce modules compatible with various vehicle types and connectivity standards. Each provider focuses on specific strengths – some prioritize energy efficiency or compact design, others emphasize global coverage or advanced diagnostics. Choosing between them depends on the type of vehicles, operational scale, and software ecosystem an operator plans to use.
Our partner, Comodule was already developing IoT for micromobility when the Corona pandemic hit. Overnight, cities shifted and everyone needed their own safe, private way to move around. Shared scooters and bikes suddenly went from being a niche service to an essential part of urban transport, and the demand for IoT skyrocketed. For IoT manufacturers, it meant long days in development and manufacturing, pushing hard to deliver reliable devices at scale for brands like Uber, Lime, and Hive.
That sharp rise in demand forced them to grow quickly and gave valuable experience in building technology that could perform under real pressure. Fleets that trusted Comodule devices had a backbone they could rely on: vehicles that could be located, unlocked, secured, and managed internationally. Just as important, the IoT had to integrate seamlessly with software systems (like ATOM Mobility). That’s why building robust API and SDK tools became critical – enabling operators to connect hardware to their platforms, control fleets in real time, and access the information needed to keep moving.
IoT as the brain of the vehicle
Inside every connected scooter or bike sits a IoT module, the “brain” that links the vehicle to the cloud. It connects through cellular networks, constantly sending data about location, speed, and battery status. When a rider taps “unlock” in the app, that command travels through the cloud to the module, which triggers the electronic lock and wakes up the vehicle. The same connection allows operators to set geofenced no-parking zones, push over-the-air updates, or activate a sound alarm if the scooter is being tampered with. Battery sensors inside the module report charging cycles and health, so operators know exactly when a pack needs to be swapped or replaced.
All of this data is streamed in real time to the fleet management system, giving providers the ability to monitor hundreds or even thousands of vehicles simultaneously. For operators, these capabilities mean higher uptime, faster theft recovery, and precise control over the entire fleet – the difference between running a struggling operation and a profitable one.
Selecting the right IoT hardware is a long-term decision that affects the entire fleet’s performance. Operators should evaluate network compatibility (2G/4G/5G/eSIM) and regional coverage, integration options such as open APIs and SDKs, and reliability under different weather conditions. Battery efficiency, after-sales support, firmware update policies, and compliance with standards like CE or FCC also matter. In short, IoT isn’t just a component – it’s the operational backbone of any shared mobility business.
Rising expectations in the market
As shared mobility matured, the bar kept getting higher. New scooter generations came with swappable batteries, sturdier frames, and better onboard electronics. Riders got used to apps that respond instantly, process payments in seconds, and show vehicle availability with pinpoint accuracy.
At the same time, competition rose, not only from global players but also from smaller, local operators launching fleets in their own cities. For these companies, reliable hardware was no longer enough. They needed the software layer that connects everything: smooth rider apps, powerful operator dashboards, and analytics to make smarter decisions. Yet many lacked the time and resources to build software on their own.
Software as the missing piece
As fleets grew and competition intensified, operators realized they did not have time or funds to develop their own software layer. They needed a market-ready platform that ties everything together – apps that riders enjoy using and dashboards that give operators full control of their business. That’s where solutions like ATOM Mobility come in.
Platform connects directly with IoT through APIs and SDKs, so every unlock command, error code, or battery update flows instantly between the rider’s app and the operator’s dashboard. Almost any company can launch a fleet with this stack – from large-scale operators to small, local newcomers.
The power of integration
When hardware and software work seamlessly, the rider experience feels effortless. A simple tap in the app sends a command through the cloud to IoT, which unlocks the vehicle and streams live data back in milliseconds. The operator instantly sees the vehicle’s status in the dashboard: battery level, GPS position, and any error codes.
If the scooter leaves a geofenced area, the system reacts automatically. If maintenance is needed, the alert is flagged before it becomes a breakdown. By combining the hardware with software, fleet providers get one complete ecosystem – a stack built to keep vehicles online and users satisfied.
From seamless rides to smarter cities
From a rider’s perspective, shared mobility should always “just work.” That won’t change. But the technology stack behind it is becoming more sophisticated every year. Stricter regulations demand safer and more transparent services, while cities are pushing for integration into broader Mobility-as-a-Service platforms. IoT and software together provide the data and control that operators need, not only to stay compliant but also to improve fleet efficiency and sustainability and to provide insights for city planning.
For users, that sophistication will translate into something simple: services that are more reliable, safer for everyone on the road, and smarter – with data from real-world usage helping to shape better vehicles, better infrastructure, and better cities in the future.
Blog
Digitalising the car rental industry – why it’s happening and what comes next
🚗 The car rental industry is finally catching up with modern mobility. From Norway to Mexico, users are skipping the desk and unlocking their rental cars with just a tap on their phone. Paper contracts, front desks, and "similar model" surprises are being replaced by fast, app-based experiences. Operators like Hyre, Sixt, and Avis are proving that going digital boosts revenue and improves customer satisfaction.
November 6, 2025
min. read
The car rental industry is finally going digital. Not with just a website and an app, but with a real transformation of how rentals work – from booking to unlocking the vehicle. Customers no longer want paper contracts, counters, or “similar model” surprises. They want convenience, predictability, and self-service.
That’s exactly what happened at Norway’s largest airports, where traditional rental giant Europcar lost its presence to Hyre – a local operator offering a mobile-first, fully digital blend of car rental and sharing. But it’s not just new players like Hyre pushing this shift. Established giants like Sixt and Avis are rapidly digitalising their rental flow as well – rolling out features like app-based bookings, mobile ID verification, and keyless access across key markets.
At ATOM Mobility, we’ve helped operators move toward this digital future for over seven years. The goal is simple: modernise outdated processes, improve the user experience, and create more profitable operations. And right now, the timing for this shift couldn’t be better.
From counters to apps: Why the rental experience is changing
Customer expectations have changed. Today’s users – especially younger ones and business travellers – are used to seamless, mobile-first journeys. They don’t want to queue at a desk, hand over their ID, wait for paperwork, or discover they’re getting a different car than they booked. And in many cases, they simply won’t accept it.
Hyre’s model responds to this new demand:
- A 100% digital rental experience, available via app, website, or walk-up self-service kiosk
- Real-time vehicle selection – you see and book the actual car you’ll drive
- Instant access via smartphone, no human interaction required
And the results are impressive:
- In 2019, Hyre made €1.1M in revenue with a €1.7M loss. In 2020 – €4.6M revenue, €0.2M profit
- By 2024, they reached ~€34M revenue and finally turned a solid profit
- They now operate 2,500+ vehicles, across 100+ models
- Average revenue per vehicle is ~€37/day (over €1,100/month) – around 50% higher than some other regional competitors
This shift is not just a trend in Norway. It’s a glimpse of where the car rental market is heading across Europe and beyond.
What users gain from a digital rental experience
The benefits for customers are obvious – and powerful:
- No waiting at the counter
Skip the lines, avoid awkward conversations, and get on the road faster. Operators like Sixt now offer full online check-in and mobile app flows that replace the desk altogether. - Car you booked = car you get
No more vague “or similar” surprises. Apps like Hyre and Sixt let you choose the actual vehicle, right before your trip. - No paperwork, no friction
Everything is handled in-app: driver’s license verification, payment, pickup, and return. - Unlock with your phone
Smartphone access makes key handover unnecessary. Some services also offer remote unlock support if something goes wrong. - On-demand rentals
Rent a car for an hour, a day, or a week – flexible durations are easier to offer with digital flows.
This is what the modern traveller wants: clarity, control, and speed.
Why operators are embracing digitalisation
While the user benefits are clear, the real business case lies in how much better digitalisation makes operations:
- Reduced staffing costs
With no need for front desk staff at every location, operators save significantly – especially at airports and peak-time zones. - Higher fleet utilisation
Real-time data enables better fleet distribution, faster turnover between rentals, and reduced downtime. - Better user data and insights
A mobile-first journey provides valuable usage data: when people rent, where, how long, and what kind of car. This helps with pricing, loyalty, and upselling. - Fewer manual errors and disputes
Digital contracts, ID checks, and timestamps reduce risk and improve accountability. - New revenue models
Digitalisation opens the door for hybrid models – like Sixt Share – where rental and car sharing meet. One fleet, multiple use cases.
Real examples: Hyre, Sixt, Avis, and Beyond
- Hyre (Norway): A leader in mobile-first car rental and sharing. Took over Europcar’s prime airport locations in 2024. Profitable, scalable, and 100% digital.
- Sixt: Offers online check-in, vehicle pre-selection, and app-based car access in key cities. Its Sixt Share product blends traditional rental and flexible car sharing in a single app. Sixt also lets customers select their exact car model up to 30 minutes before pickup.
- Avis Budget Group: Investing heavily in digital transformation – using AWS to build connected vehicle platforms and real-time user tracking. In Mexico, Avis even launched biometric identity verification, allowing renters to skip counters using facial recognition.
These companies understand that digitalisation isn’t about offering an app – it’s about rebuilding the rental experience around the user. And it's paying off.
What this means for operators (and how ATOM Mobility can help)
If you’re running a rental operation and still relying on paperwork, front desks, or disconnected tools, now’s the time to evolve.
Here’s how you can modernise your operations with help from ATOM Mobility:
- Replace paper with digital onboarding
Use in-app license scanning, facial verification, and automated approval flows. - Enable keyless vehicle access
Let users unlock the vehicle via app, securely and reliably. - Offer flexible rental durations
Go beyond daily rates – allow hourly, weekend, or hybrid rental periods. - Use data to guide pricing and availability
Monitor usage patterns and demand in real time. Adjust pricing zones dynamically. - Launch new revenue streams
With digital infrastructure in place, testing car sharing or subscriptions becomes much easier. - Cut costs and increase vehicle ROI
More bookings per vehicle, lower overhead, and happier customers – all enabled by a modern backend.
ATOM Mobility provides all the building blocks to power this shift. Whether you’re a traditional rental company l
ooking to go mobile-first, or a new operator exploring flexible mobility, we’ve built the tech to get you there.
The rental counter is going away
Car rental is becoming more like e-commerce: fast, digital, and customer-led. The counter, the queue, the paperwork – these are all parts of an older model that no longer meets expectations. The future lies in seamless, app-based access that lets users pick the car they want, when they want it.
The Hyre example shows what’s possible with the right model. Sixt and Avis show how even large incumbents are adapting. If you’re an operator – big or small – the time to start this shift is now.
And if you’re looking for a trusted partner to support you on that journey, ATOM Mobility digital rental software is ready. We help rental and car sharing businesses launch, scale, and thrive – with the tech that powers modern mobility.
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