Credit: :Dribe
Digital car subscription model :Dribe recently shared figures for electric vehicle sales in Luxembourg.
Citing figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), :Dribe reported that sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in Luxembourg are around 17% higher than last year.
In October 2024, a total of 1,308 new EVs were registered, an increase of around 4% compared to October 2023.
According to David Bailey, Professor of Economics at Birmingham Business School, car subscriptions could help accelerate the transition to electric cars in Luxembourg: "Drivers are sometimes hesitant to adopt the new technology because of high upfront costs, concerns about range and charging, or uncertainty about the resale value. A subscription allows consumers to see whether electric vehicles fit their lifestyle and whether they make a lot of money for them. With car subscriptions without long-term commitments, consumers can try out electric vehicles while reducing the associated risks".
Peter Wells, Professor of Business and Sustainability and Director of the Automotive Industry Research Centre in Hungary, noted that car subscription services can help optimise the use of resources in the transport sector: "When a consumer opts for a large vehicle to meet occasional needs, this undermines the objectives of the green transition in the automotive industry. These oversized cars unnecessarily consume resources, both in their production and in their maintenance. Car subscriptions offer new perspectives to promote more sustainable mobility. They allow consumers to change vehicles according to their specific needs and new cars do not need to be designed as oversized all-in-one solutions".
Mr Wells also pointed out that despite the potential of car subscriptions, the automotive industry is rooted in its traditions and that it will not be easy to reverse this trend.
The car subscription service :Dribe, owned by Danish automotive player Semler Group, offers a fully digital customer experience and a subscription with an indefinite term. According to CEO Jesper Hill-Kjærsgaard, this model allows subscribers to maintain full control over their subscription, adapting their options and vehicle at any time to their changing needs, whether for an electric vehicle or a conventional solution.
"For longer journeys or in areas where the infrastructure remains uncertain, users often tend to favour conventional fossil fuel cars. However, we know from experience that once users become accustomed to the many advantages of electric vehicles, they tend to stay loyal to them," said Jesper Hill-Kjærsgaard.
