Don't miss your next business season!
December 6, 2021
min. read
All over the world various mobility solutions are becoming more and more popular. However, the global shortage of semiconductors and many other parts required to produce vehicles, as well as challenges in logistics are becoming increasingly apparent. Even big companies including carmakers and Apple have been forced to announce that they are cutting production. So if you are planning to launch or expand your mobility business during the next season, this is the last moment to order vehicles and get ready.
Before starting any mobility business, there are three aspects you must consider: market research, software integration, and hardware, as well as vehicle manufacturing and delivery. Market research is entirely dependent on your efforts. You can leave the software to ATOM. Adapting ATOM software to your business idea won't take more than 20 days. However right now the biggest challenge currently all over the world is hardware and vehicle manufacturing and delivery.
Force majeure started shortly after the pandemic, with a dramatic increase in demand for different materials that were previously available in appropriate amounts. Unfortunately, at ATOM we experienced situations when our clients were ready to start their mobility businesses in March and April 2020, but couldn’t launch it before September and even October for the simple reason that vehicles had not yet been delivered. So they just had to watch in frustration as the hottest season passed them by.
It’s a bit easier in Europe
What options of ordering vehicles do you have? If you are located in Europe, then, of course, Europe is the first thing that pops up in your mind. However, the spring of 2020 showed that the availability of vehicles in Europe is extremely limited. If you are not planning a big fleet, then you can probably get by somehow. But if you are planning a fleet with over 100 units, there are just a few options.
The other option is China. ATOM team can help you with contacts, but even so, the task is not simple. It takes time to negotiate with hardware and vehicle providers. You should double-check and make sure that all the details are right, all the documents are in order, and that the vehicles will be ready, as well as shipped on time.
Up to 90 days
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what manufacturer you choose, the manufacturing lead time starts from the down payment. Depending on the fleet size ordered, you should bear in mind that the lead time may range from 40-90 days. Any customized products or special orders will increase the production lead time to 60-90 days. And it still depends on the number of orders made at the same time by different clients.
The closer the season gets, the more orders can be made. This could also influence the price - the manufacturer may decide to charge more if demand is high. This means unexpected expenditures for you even before your business is up and running.
Fernando Brito, Sales operations manager at ACTON, one of the leading micro-mobility vehicle manufacturers on the market, says that you should definitely add six weeks to the schedule before making a discovery call to the manufacturer and making your final decision. “Normally it takes several meetings to reach a decision. During the first meeting, ACTON usually presents its solutions and listens to the customer’s needs. The next step is the making of a quote. Of course, this usually also creates some discussions and throws up additional issues like shipping costs, taxes, production lead time, and also needs regarding any specific local regulation. Beyond this, this step usually leads to a demo call where all technical and specification details about the vehicles are covered. If everything goes well, then the decision to proceed is made and production can begin. However, negotiations can take more time. In addition, complicated regulatory compliance can require extra meetings about the really specific features of the vehicle. So it is better, of course, to have extra time so you don’t find yourself having to make any decisions in a hurry,” says Fernando.
Additionally, at the beginning of the high season, everything can get a bit crazy. “We try to ensure that our production can fulfill that demand. Moreover, as we grow we are increasing our operational capacity in several markets - namely, Europe - with new facilities and additional personnel. Right now, we are not experiencing any queues for orders, because we’ve planned our production accordingly, and we manage customer expectations successfully,” explains Fernando. He says that ACTON has some batches of vehicles in stock so the company is ready for extra orders of standard vehicles - these can be shipped within 2 to 3 weeks.
Unpredictable logistics
There is still one phase to consider and this is delivering the product to the owner. Covid-19 has posed new challenges to logistics. According to a representative of our logistics partner ACE logistics, planning and implementing logistics could be a real struggle at present: “The pandemic has had a major impact on supply chains all over the world. There were periods when the main Chinese ports were closed for several weeks due to quarantine. There have been movement restrictions in countries due to COVID-19. Factories are short of personnel and therefore the fulfillment of orders is subject to long delays. At the same time, the global consumption boom and economic growth are demanding ever more manufactured goods.”
And with no prospect of a brighter outlook in the immediate to short term, this should be taken into account while planning any orders. According to ACE logistics, the peak importing season from Asia has always been and will be the period from Golden Week in October to the Chinese New Year. During this three to four-month period, massive volumes of industrial, seasonal, and lifestyle goods are exported from China. Historically, spring and summer are a quieter period in terms of freight volumes, which has also led to some slackness inactivity. Unfortunately, this was not the case in 2021. “Since November 2020, we have continued to see freight rates rising several times a month. Waiting times for an empty container and available space on board have already exceeded four to five weeks. Huge volumes of goods have also hit the speed of customs clearance. In addition, we are seeing our customers struggle with manufacturers, who are also under strain. The energy crisis leaves a strong mark on all parties involved. And the global consumption boom is significantly extending the originally planned lead-time,” warns the ACE logistics representative.
Are you ready for the spring of 2022?
Preparations for the spring season are now in full swing. If your goal is to get goods to Europe by the beginning of March 2022, waiting times for empty containers and berths are up to a month. Additionally sea transit times from China to European ports are approximately four to six weeks. Now is the time to lock in deals in the coming weeks! However, it is important to keep in mind that even the best planning is no guarantee that the desired deadlines will be met.
In short, you have to make a decision and place an order for manufacturing hardware and vehicles for your mobility business no later than the middle of December before the Christmas holidays. Then you might get your order by the beginning of the season in March. Orders from manufacturers in Europe are a bit easier, but the availability of vehicles in stocks in Europe could be extremely limited.
All additional measures required to launch your mobility business when your vehicles arrive should be done simultaneously. ATOM can start to prepare all the necessary configurations and integrations for your hardware right away. It will be ready in a maximum of 20 days. Contact us here!
Interested in launching your own mobility platform?
Click below to learn more or request a demo.
Blog
How to find your niche in the competitive ride-hail market: real-world examples of businesses that resonate
💡Want to break into the ride-hail market but don know what’s your angle and how to make yourself visible in an already packed field? Check out how InDrive, BLACWOLF, and COMIN found their unique angles to thrive in a competitive space! 🚗
December 18, 2024
min. read
The ride-hail market is crowded, fiercely competitive, and often dominated by household names like Uber and Bolt. But don’t let the giants fool you into thinking there’s no place for you. With some creative thinking and a unique angle, you can get on the road quite quickly. The secret? Finding the one thing that sets you apart from others. Let’s explore how some notable players (both veterans and newcomers) have done just that.
InDrive: A pioneer in price negotiation
🔹 Over 200M downloads, active in 700+ cities across 45+ countries
🔹 Unique feature: Set your price - Riders offer a fare, and drivers can accept or negotiate!
🔹 Drivers pay no commission, just a small monthly subscription, giving them better earnings.
🔹 Unique market entry: Initially free usage for drivers (no commission, no subscription).
Before we discuss the latest players, let’s revisit InDrive, a company that entered the market years ago with an approach that sounds almost too simple to work – offer your price.
The idea is straightforward. Instead of accepting a fixed fare, riders suggest how much they’re willing to pay. Drivers, in turn, can accept, counter, or reject the offer. It’s a dynamic that mirrors haggling at a bazaar but digitized for the modern commuter.
This model resonated. Riders felt empowered, and drivers appreciated the flexibility, especially in sensitive markets where fair pricing is a concern. InDrive rapidly scaled across emerging markets like Latin America, Russia, and Southeast Asia, regions where affordability and negotiation are cultural norms.
The takeaway here? InDrive’s “offer your price” model wasn’t just a fun gimmick, but a solution tailored to specific markets and demographics, offering fair rides to anyone who needs it. If you’re entering the ride-hail space, ask yourself: what unique cultural or social nuance can you leverage to disrupt the market in the region?
BLACWOLF: The armed and ready approach
🔹 Unique feature: Focus on rider security with armed & trained drivers 🛡️
🔹 Launched in Atlanta (2023), now expanding across Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and soon Houston, Austin, and Dallas!
🔹 Over 300K downloads in just 1.5 years.
Now, let’s fast-forward to the present and head to the U.S., where BLACWOLF has entered the scene (launched in Atlanta, 2023), now expanding across Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and soon Houston, Austin, and Dallaswith an eyebrow-raising twist: drivers who carry firearms.
BLACWOLF was launched in response to concerns over driver and passenger safety. Their USP (unique selling proposition) is ensuring peace of mind through armed drivers. As their slogan says, “We didn't reinvent ride-hailing; we just made it safer.”
As controversial as it sounds, it’s resonating in specific markets like Houston, where personal security is a priority for many.
This approach has gained traction, especially among passengers who prioritize safety or feel underserved by existing ride-hail platforms. Of course, it’s not without its challenges. Regulatory hurdles and liability concerns spring to mind; however, BLACWOLF is scaling rapidly, proving that a polarizing angle can still be a winning one.
Don’t shy away from bold ideas that cater to real pain points. Whether it’s safety, convenience, or cost, identifying an underserved need can help you stand out in a crowded market.
COMIN: France’s bid-for-ride disruptor
🔹 Unique features: Offering a fair 10% commission and Set your price feature (similar to inDrive).
🔹 Quickly onboarded 6,000 drivers, capturing 15% of the market in record time.
Over in Europe, a fresh player called COMIN is shaking things up in France. This newcomer has onboarded 6,000 drivers, taking 15% of the French market almost overnight, a feat that’s turning heads across the industry.
COMIN’s secret sauce? A bidding system that allows passengers to submit offers for rides, giving drivers the choice to accept or negotiate. Yes, it’s like InDrive, but with a hyper-local twist tailored to France’s market dynamics.
To fuel their growth, they’ve also raised €300,000 in seed funding from Station F, Europe’s largest startup incubator. By focusing on one market and perfecting their model, COMIN has avoided doing too much at once—proof that a focused approach often trumps trying to be everything to everyone.
For aspiring ride-hail entrepreneurs, COMIN serves as a case study in starting small but thinking big. Specializing in one region or demographic before expanding can help you gain traction and refine your offering.
The ride-hail market may look like a fortress, but even the strongest walls have cracks. With creativity, boldness, and the right platform to support your vision, there’s no reason you can’t break through and thrive. Are you ready?
How ATOM Mobility can help
So, you’ve got your groundbreaking idea. What’s next? To turn your vision into a reality, you’ll need a robust platform to build on—and that’s where ATOM Mobility comes in.
ATOM provides a ready-made platform for entrepreneurs looking to launch ride-hailing or mobility services. With customizable tools, seamless integrations, and scalable tech, ATOM lets you focus on your unique value proposition while we handle the backend.
Ready to make your mark in the ride-hail world? Join ATOM Mobility today and start your journey!
Blog
Cracking the code of car sharing: Best technology for car sharing business
🚘💡 What keeps cars in car-sharing businesses connected? From CAN bus and OBD devices to cutting-edge IoT providers like Teltonika, Invers and Geotab, it’s all about the hardware!
November 27, 2024
min. read
Car sharing is more than just a trend—it’s a game-changer for urban mobility, helping people access vehicles without the headache of owning them. But what makes it all work? Let us introduce the tech behind car sharing and explore how companies like ATOM Mobility make it easier to start and scale your shared mobility business profitably.
The three pillars of car sharing technology
At the heart of every car-sharing operation are three key technologies that connect vehicles to platforms: CAN bus, OBD, and OEM telematics. Here’s what they do and why they matter:
1. CAN Bus: The car’s internal network
The Controller Area Network (CAN) bus acts like a car’s central nervous system, allowing different components to talk to each other. It delivers detailed data—fuel levels, battery status, or even tire pressure—directly to your car-sharing platform. This deep integration also allows remote actions like locking or starting the vehicle.
However, CAN systems require professional installation, which can mean higher upfront costs. For larger operators with fleets that need granular control and detailed diagnostics, it’s a must-have.
2. OBD: Affordable and easy to deploy
On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) devices are the plug-and-play heroes of car sharing. Simply connect them to the car’s diagnostic port, and you’ve got instant access to location, speed, and engine health. They’re affordable, quick to set up, and ideal for small-to-medium operators just getting started.
That said, OBD devices offer less functionality compared to CAN. They’re perfect for a more basic setup but might not suit operators who need advanced data or remote vehicle controls.
3. OEM Telematics: Factory-installed genius
OEM telematics systems come pre-installed in many modern cars. These systems provide seamless connectivity and are highly reliable, enabling features like real-time tracking, diagnostics, and remote locking.
The downside? OEM telematics tie you to the car manufacturer’s system, which can limit customization. If your fleet is from a single brand, this is a fantastic option. For mixed-brand fleets, integrating other devices might make more sense.
The IoT providers helping you succeed
Beyond these three core technologies, IoT providers offer additional tools to supercharge your car-sharing operations. Here are four standout names making waves in the industry:
Teltonika
WEB: https://teltonika-gps.com
Headquartered in Lithuania, Teltonika has been at the forefront of IoT since 1998. With over 1,600 employees, the company specializes in GPS trackers and other connected devices that bring real-time tracking, security, and driver behavior analysis to your fleet. Their scalable solutions are ideal for growing car-sharing businesses.
Geotab
WEB: https://www.geotab.com
Based in Canada, Geotab supports over 2 million vehicles worldwide with its advanced fleet management tools. Their telematics devices don’t just track vehicles—they provide insights into fuel efficiency, maintenance needs, and safety. For operators focused on data-driven optimization, Geotab is a top choice.
INVERS
WEB: https://invers.com/en/solutions/cloudboxx
Germany’s INVERS is a leader in shared mobility tech, offering the CloudBoxx device to connect vehicles with car-sharing platforms. Easy to integrate and reliable, CloudBoxx ensures a smooth experience for operators and users alike. With a strong presence in Europe and North America, INVERS is a trusted name in the industry.
Acacus
WEB: https://www.acacusgroup.com
Operating out of the UAE, Acacus combines IoT and AI to deliver smart mobility solutions. Their tech is widely used in government projects and private fleets, especially in regions embracing smart cities. Acacus brings innovation and reliability to shared mobility operators aiming for cutting-edge solutions.
How ATOM Mobility comes into the picture?
Technology is only as good as the platform that connects it all. That’s where ATOM Mobility shines.
ATOM’s software integrates seamlessly with devices from Teltonika, Geotab, INVERS, and others, making it simple to connect your fleet and manage everything from a single dashboard. No matter the size of your operation, ATOM provides tools for real-time tracking, user management, and secure payments—all with intuitive design and full support.
Whether you’re launching your first car-sharing fleet or expanding across multiple cities, ATOM helps you scale profitably and with confidence. We make the technical stuff easy so you can focus on growing your business.
Why is car sharing the future?
Urban living is changing. People are moving away from car ownership, opting instead for flexible, on-demand solutions like car sharing. It’s convenient, cost-effective, and kinder to the planet.
With tech like CAN, OBD, OEM telematics, and IoT devices driving the industry forward, the potential for shared mobility is enormous. But to succeed, operators need the right tools to manage fleets, optimize performance, and deliver a great user experience.
Join us
Ready to start your car-sharing journey? Book a demo with ATOM Mobility and let’s get moving!
Driver App demo credentials - Email: test@atom.com, Password: driver
