Credit: ACL

The Automobile Club du Luxembourg (ACL) reported a 5% increase in roadside assistance interventions in 2024, a year that also saw a record-high customer satisfaction rate of 97% and a mobility recovery rate of 84.5%.

In 2024, the Automobile Club du Luxembourg (ACL) handled 33,040 roadside assistance cases for its members, an increase from 31,459 in 2023. More notably, ACL’s roadside service improved its mobility recovery rate, restoring vehicle functionality in 84.5% of cases, up from 81.9% the previous year.

According to Louis-Nicolas Bier, ACL’s Director of Operations: "Our agents are capable of directly handling various types of breakdowns to get our members back on the road and restore their mobility as quickly as possible. Depending on the type of breakdown, we always recommend that members schedule an appointment with their garage for an inspection or, if necessary, more extensive repairs to their vehicle."

Top Five Breakdown Causes in 2024:

- Battery failures – 8,123 cases / +8% year-on-year
- Mechanical failures – 4,517 cases / +14%
- Tyre-related issues – 4,455 cases / +6%
- Accidents, collisions, or vehicles stuck – 3,180 cases / -5%
- Fuel-related issues – 1,115 cases / -20%

ACL noted, with battery-related failures remaining the primary cause of vehicle breakdowns, motorists are encouraged to pay closer attention to battery maintenance, particularly during seasonal temperature changes.

The rise in vehicle breakdowns is a complex phenomenon influenced by multiple factors, including:

- Increase in the number of vehicles on the road;
- Ageing vehicle fleet: Motorists are replacing their cars less frequently due to uncertainty over engine types and rising vehicle prices;
- Growing reliance on vehicle electronics, leading to more complex and software-related failures;
- Lack of maintenance of 12-volt batteries, even in electric vehicles;
- Declining availability of spare tyres in modern cars, making punctures more problematic.

The number of vehicle breakdowns occurring outside Luxembourg, across Europe, increased from 4,435 in 2023 to 4,671 in 2024, highlighting the increasing mobility of ACL members. According to STATEC (2022), more than 50% of leisure trips are made by car.