A white label solution or building your own software - what to choose for your vehicle sharing business?

A white label solution or building your own software - what to choose for your vehicle sharing business?

Software is an essential part of your vehicle-sharing business. And it doesn't matter what vehicles your customers are going to share. They will do it through the mobile app. So here is the decision to make – are you going to create the vehicle-sharing software from scratch or choose one of the existing solutions on the market. Hopefully, this article will help you with this decision.

Which one of these two options should you choose? There is no one correct answer and there are advantages as well as weaknesses to both of them.

Imagine that this is your first vehicle-sharing business and you have decided to do everything on your own. You are full of enthusiasm and you approach your CTO or IT partner and promise to come up with the brief. The task doesn't seem too complicated for the software you need. However, the vehicle-sharing business is the one that makes creating the brief so complicated. There are many small details to consider.

First step - long and costly research

If you really have decided to start to develop software from scratch, you should take one step back. Your CTO or IT partner must start with the investigation on what functions you might need and how one thing might lead to another. This might take a lot of time and money. In addition, sometimes you can get an impression of what clients need only by operating in the market. For example, ATOM is operating in 80+ countries. Their software that is also a white label solution for vehicle-sharing businesses already includes over 300 different features and settings that users might need. And those features are a collection of suggestions from users made over the course of several years in those markets.

However, the aim of the research is to understand what the vehicle-sharing software might look like. If the investigation is done, you can start to prepare the brief and documentation for developers. Here is a list of some other things that you should consider before starting work on a technical solution:

- backend, as well as frontend of the solution - both should be developed and supported so your team can manage operations;

- there should be two versions of the mobile app - one for users that has a device operating on iOS. Other - for the owners of devices that run on Android;

- whenever Apple or Android updates their operating systems or other 3rd party makes an update, you should be ready to check if everything works on your apps;

- apps should be compatible with smart locks in the case of bikes or IoT solutions in the case of scooters, mopeds, cars that are used on the vehicle;

- the IT solution must be properly tested and debugged - the industry average shows that testing the app takes approximately two-three months;

- if your vehicle fleet has over 100 vehicles, most likely you will have a service team. The most convenient way for the service team to operate is by using the phone app. This means that there should be one more app for the service team. And your team members might also have iOS as well as Android operating systems on their devices. So again – there are two more apps for you to build;

- additionally, you must have an invoicing option and also the option to create reports, see statistics, analyze routes, distribute promotions, launch referral programs, etc. And this list can go on and on.

The software development usually costs from EUR 100,000-400,000 depending on the complexity and features that you might want to include. In addition, you have to keep in mind that nothing ends with development. The software requires testing, private launch, debugging and support. And only then will the software be ready for the public launch. However, more bug fixing should probably be done.

One year and you are ready to go!

This whole process mentioned above takes approximately one year. Of course, fingers crossed that the solution as well as the integration with smart locks or IoT solutions works. There is just one problem - the vehicle-sharing industry is changing very rapidly - new players are coming in, others are expanding, new means of transportation are used for vehicle-sharing. And there are a lot of things that might happen and change in a year. It might be hard to catch up.

Furthermore, competitors are constantly offering and creating new features that were not in the market previously such as subscriptions, which is currently a new trend. For example, ATOM Mobility has created a white label solution for the vehicle-sharing market that constantly collects knowledge from their clients and adds new features. Later those features are integrated into solutions offered to other clients so everyone is up to date. In the case of a custom-made solution, everything is on you - it might take additional time and money.

One more thing that speaks in favor of the white label solution - let's imagine that your business is very successful. You have developed a vehicle-sharing software for the one-vehicle type and you would like to grow by adding other vehicle types. Sorry, not possible. You will have to make significant changes to the existing software or develop the new one. So probably you will have to start over again.

The same problem might apply to extending the fleet. If your business becomes scalable, the software might not be appropriate for a fleet with 20 000 vehicles. White label solution providers are usually ready for such success of their customers as they have already supported thousands of vehicles for some time.

When it is worthwhile developing a custom solution?

However, there are times that it is worth considering developing a custom solution - your own software for your vehicle-sharing business. It is worth doing this, if:

1) You already know that you might need some very specific features, but the company offering white-label solutions can't provide them to you. For example, you want your car sharing software to run on the blockchain. Or you want to create a decentralized sharing service. However, it is only worth investing in such a specific solution if it is a real game-changer for you and you have the data to proof it;

2) You have EUR 500,000 or more available in funding and you have a very strong team of developers that you would like to keep working for your company. You consider them to be your asset. Then, if you are lucky, after some time, someone might be interested in buying your company just because of the team and, of course, the solution you have developed;

3) The co-founder of the company is a very good CTO with high-level technical skills and the ability to lead the team. Then it is probably worth building a team. However, most likely you will build a technological and not a vehicle-sharing company in the end and spent more on development than actually on vehicles.

4) For some reason one of the requirements is to have a source code. Companies offering white label solutions won't be able to help you with that.

There is a power in sharing and this doesn't just apply to vehicle-sharing. You always get access to a strong network when you are working hand in hand with the industry leaders. That's what we at ATOM emphasize in collaboration with our clients. We are ready to share as much as we can because we do really care about our clients’ business. It is important for us that they grow and constantly have access to the latest achievements within the industry.

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5 new ATOM Mobility features to help you capture demand and run a more efficient fleet
5 new ATOM Mobility features to help you capture demand and run a more efficient fleet

🚀 ATOM Mobility ships 7-15 new features every month, alongside smaller improvements and fixes. Explore five recent highlights: unmet demand heatmaps, automated fleet tasks, field-team performance tracking, new subscription types, and lock-screen ride updates - helping operators run more efficient fleets and improve the rider experience.

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Knowing where customers need vehicles, keeping field teams productive, and giving riders reasons to return are everyday priorities for mobility operators. Every month, ATOM Mobility ships 7-15 new features, alongside smaller improvements and fixes. Here are five highlights from our recent releases - and how they can help operators improve fleet performance and the customer experience.

1. See where demand goes unmet

A customer opens your app, finds no vehicle nearby, and leaves. Your ride history alone won’t show you that missed opportunity.

The Unmet Demand heatmap highlights areas where users open the app but cannot find an available scooter, bike, or car within 1000 metres radius. Beyond colour-coded hexagons, on zoomed in view it shows the number of unique users who searched for a vehicle in each area without finding one nearby.

Use these insights to identify gaps in fleet coverage, prioritise rebalancing, and assess potential parking locations. Alongside seeing where rides happen, you can now understand where potential demand goes unmet.

Unmet demand heatmap

2. Automatically create tasks when vehicles need attention

Keeping a fleet ready for customers means staying on top of maintenance, charging, refuelling, and service quality. As your fleet grows into hundreds of vehicles, manually tracking when each vehicle needs attention becomes increasingly time-consuming.

Task Manager automations turn vehicle usage, condition, and ride feedback into actionable tasks. Operators can configure tasks to be created:

  • After a defined number of rides, kilometres, or hours.
  • When battery or fuel levels fall below a chosen threshold.
  • When the average rating of the last three rides falls below a set value.
  • When the average distance of the last three rides falls below a set value.
  • When a vehicle enters Rebalancing status.

These rules can support routine maintenance, trigger charging or refuelling tasks, and flag vehicles for inspection after low ratings or unusually short rides. For rebalancing tasks, if a customer uses the vehicle before collection, the task is automatically removed. This reduces manual monitoring and helps your team respond to vehicles that need attention.

Task Manager automations

3. Understand how your field operations perform

How long do tasks take? Where does your team spend its time? Which operational bottlenecks need attention?

New Shifts and Operator Performance views give vehicle sharing and digital rental operators visibility into shift status and duration, distance driven, completed tasks, and average time per task.

Managers can use these insights to investigate delays, improve routes, and identify training needs. For example, longer task completion times could prompt a closer look at travel distances, workload, or the processes used at each location. Comparing results alongside task types and working conditions helps turn performance data into practical operational improvements.

Performance tab of task manager

4. Give frequent riders more reasons to return

Different customers have different riding habits. Your subscriptions should reflect that.

ATOM Mobility now supports two additional subscription types:

  • Percentage discount subscriptions: apply a fixed percentage discount to eligible trips during the subscription period.
  • Fixed ride fee subscriptions: give qualifying trips up to a specified duration a flat price.

These options let operators design offers around frequent riders and short-distance commuters. For example, you could offer subscribers a percentage discount on eligible rides or a predictable flat fee for qualifying short trips. Operators gain more flexibility to test offers that encourage repeat usage while fitting their pricing strategy.

2 new subscription types available

5. Keep ride information visible on the lock screen

Checking an active trip should be simple.

Live Activity lets customers view key ride information directly on their phone lock screen without repeatedly opening the app. Depending on the service, this can help them follow an active ride or a driver’s arrival.

Making this information readily accessible gives customers a more convenient way to stay informed throughout their journey.

Live activity in action

Put these features to work for your fleet

These five releases are part of ATOM Mobility’s ongoing product development, helping operators identify unmet demand, automate routine coordination, understand field-team performance, and improve the customer experience.

Exploring software for your mobility business? Book a demo to see how ATOM Mobility can support your fleet, team, and customers.
Explore more product updates at https://www.atommobility.com/atomupdates

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Who will operate Europe’s robotaxi fleets?
Who will operate Europe’s robotaxi fleets?

🤖 Who will actually operate Europe’s robotaxi fleets? Autonomous driving may remove the driver, but it doesn’t remove the work behind the car. Robotaxis still need charging, cleaning, maintenance, depots, customer support and someone managing the fleet every day. Early projects in Zagreb, Madrid and London illustrate different stages of deployment and how AV technology providers, fleet operators and booking platforms can work together. Taxi, rental and car-sharing companies already handle many of these tasks. What would it take to turn that experience into an autonomous fleet business?

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For a taxi fleet owner, autonomous vehicles may seem to remove the most important part of the current business – the driver. But even without drivers, someone still needs to take care of the cars. They need to be owned or financed, charged, cleaned, inspected and repaired. Someone also needs to manage depots, deal with incidents, help customers and make sure enough cars are available.

The first robotaxi services and tests in Europe are already showing how this could work. The company that develops the autonomous driving technology does not always own or operate the cars. The app where customers book their rides may come from another company too. This could leave an important role for taxi, rental, car-sharing and other fleet companies that already know how to manage vehicles.

What changes when the driver disappears?

A taxi company today manages both cars and drivers. Drivers need to be recruited, scheduled, paid and supported. With a driverless fleet, these tasks would eventually disappear, but most of the work related to the cars would stay.

Autonomous cars still need charging or refuelling, cleaning, tyres, inspections, repairs and insurance. They also need somewhere to park when they are not working. If there is an accident or a technical problem, someone needs to deal with it and get the car back on the road. Customer support is still needed too when there are problems with bookings or payments, or when someone leaves something in the car.

Some of these tasks may even become more important. Robotaxis are expensive, and every hour a car spends charging, being cleaned or waiting for maintenance is an hour when it cannot take passengers. Moove, for example, already provides fleet ownership, depots, charging, maintenance and 24/7 operations for autonomous vehicles.

Drivers also do more than drive: they notice damage, report faults, help passengers and respond when something goes wrong. Without a driver, these responsibilities need clear processes and dedicated support. Existing fleet experience is an advantage, but operators will need to adapt it to vehicles running without someone behind the wheel.

Who actually runs a robotaxi service?

There can be several companies behind one robotaxi ride. One provides autonomous driving technology, another may own the cars, and a local company can take care of the fleet. A platform such as Uber can then connect the cars with passengers. Sometimes one company may do several of these things, but this is not always the case.

Zagreb is one example. Pony.ai provides the autonomous driving system, Verne owns and operates the fleet, and Uber connects it with customers through its app. Autonomous rides became commercially available through Uber in August 2026 with a licensed operator onboard. On 10 September, Pony.ai and Verne also started fully driverless passenger test rides on a 22-kilometre route connecting parts of Zagreb with the airport. These are still limited test rides, not a fully driverless service across the whole city.

A similar model is being tested in Madrid. WeRide, Uber and AVOMO received permission in September 2026 to start testing and mapping under Spain’s ES-AV framework. The first 20 vehicles have an onboard specialist. WeRide provides the autonomous technology, Uber connects the cars with passengers, and AVOMO takes care of fleet operations. Commercial operations are planned for later in 2026, but the current permit is for testing and preparation rather than a general driverless taxi service.

In London, Wayve and Uber launched supervised autonomous passenger rides in September 2026. Customers can be matched with an autonomous vehicle through the Uber app, but there is still a licensed driver in the car.

Europe is preparing for larger robotaxi fleets

The plans for the next few years are already much bigger. Pony.ai and Uber announced in August 2026 that they plan to deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis in Europe, starting with Zagreb and later expanding to four more European cities.

Bolt and Lucid announced another partnership in September, with Bolt aiming to deploy at least 25,000 autonomous Lucid vehicles across European cities. This is a future target, not 25,000 cars already operating today.

How these fleets are owned and operated may also be different from one city to another. Local regulations, available vehicles, charging and depot infrastructure and partnerships will all have an effect on how each service is set up.

Who will operate Europe’s robotaxi fleets?

What could this mean for taxi companies?

Taxi companies already do many of the things that would still be needed with an autonomous fleet. They maintain cars, deal with insurance and incidents, provide customer support and make sure enough vehicles are available. Some also already have their own depots, charging infrastructure or maintenance partners.

One possible model can already be seen in Zagreb. A local company owns and operates the autonomous fleet, while a larger ride-hailing platform brings customers. In the future, an existing taxi company could potentially have a similar role. Instead of managing cars and drivers, it could manage autonomous cars that receive bookings through a larger platform.

This does not mean platforms such as Uber will always rely on other companies to own the cars. Uber’s 2026 agreement with Rivian includes up to $1.25 billion in milestone-dependent investment and says that Uber or its fleet partners may purchase the autonomous vehicles. Uber is also developing infrastructure for autonomous fleets. Different ownership models are therefore possible.

What about rental and car-sharing companies?

Autonomous vehicles could also become interesting for rental and car-sharing companies, although this is probably further in the future. These businesses already manage vehicles, maintenance, cleaning, charging, bookings, customer accounts and payments, so much of the practical work is similar.

Autonomous driving could also change how rental and sharing cars are moved. Today, an employee may need to drive a car from one location to another. In the future, the vehicle could potentially do this itself within an area where autonomous driving is approved. It could even become possible for a rental car to drive itself to a customer’s pickup point.

How do you measure a robotaxi fleet?

Without drivers, it becomes especially important to understand how much time each vehicle is actually working. Every hour spent charging, being cleaned, waiting for maintenance or simply sitting unused means less time carrying paying passengers.

Some useful KPIs could be available hours per vehicle, paid trips per vehicle each day, revenue per available vehicle/day, empty kilometres, charging and maintenance downtime, cost per trip and incidents that need human help. These are most popular robotaxi industry KPIs of what a company could measure during a pilot.

For example, if cars spend too much time waiting to charge, the charging setup may need to change. A lot of empty kilometres could mean the cars are not in the right places, while too much maintenance downtime could make a vehicle more expensive to operate.

How could local companies enter the market?

For either model, the business case depends on the partnership terms: who finances the vehicles, who carries the risk when demand is low, and how revenue and operating costs are shared. Operators should assess what remains after vehicle financing, insurance, charging, maintenance and partner fees. Depots, local service teams and reliable fleet availability could make an operator a valuable partner, but profitability still needs to be demonstrated.

One option for taxi fleets would be to work with an autonomous driving company and a larger ride-hailing platform. The local company could own or manage the cars and take care of the fleet, while customers book their rides through the larger platform.

Another option could be possible in cities where large ride-hailing platforms are not present or have limited coverage. A local company could work with an approved AV provider while using its own app, bookings, payments, customer support and fleet management.

In both cases, a company cannot simply buy autonomous cars and start offering rides. The technology needs to be approved, and local rules have to allow the service. These rules will also be different across Europe. Great Britain, for example, introduced its Automated Passenger Services permitting framework in 2026. Services similar to taxis or private hire vehicles need consent from the relevant local authority, while responsibility for the autonomous driving technology and the passenger service are treated separately.

What can fleet companies do now?

A company does not need to have autonomous cars today to start preparing. A good first step is understanding the current fleet in detail – what each vehicle costs, how many hours it is available, how much time it spends charging or being repaired, and when cars are used the most.

Charging, cleaning, maintenance and depot processes are also worth looking at because all of these will still be needed with autonomous vehicles. A company interested in an AV pilot can then choose a location and use case, look at the local permit process and start talking to autonomous driving technology providers.

The software will also need some preparation. Customers still need to book and pay for rides, while the company needs fleet information, customer support, reporting and connections between its own systems and the AV technology. Starting with a small pilot makes it possible to test all of this before trying to build a larger service.

Where could ATOM Mobility fit?

ATOM Mobility already provides many of the software functions used by taxi, ride-hailing, rental and sharing companies, including customer apps, bookings, payments, fleet management, maintenance tasks, analytics and APIs. Its ride-hailing software includes passenger and driver apps, dispatch, payments, fleet data, analytics and integrations. The ATOM Mobility API can also exchange data about vehicles, bookings, rides, payments, telemetry and maintenance tasks.

ATOM Mobility does not provide autonomous driving technology. This would come from a specialised AV company, and each project would have its own technical requirements and local approvals. For an AV pilot, ATOM Mobility could work with the fleet company and AV provider on the rider experience, integrations, fleet management and the data needed to measure how the pilot is working.

If you operate a taxi, rental or sharing fleet and want to explore an AV pilot,  ATOM Mobility can help plan the booking and fleet-management setup, integrations and metrics you would need to test together with an AV technology partner.

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