PARIS -- A Spanish company has signed the first contract in Europe to use Renault’s Limo midsize electric sedan, which is aimed at ride-hailing services.
The company, Cabify, will initially use 40 Limos as part of its Vecttor fleet in Madrid. Cabify and Renault Group’s mobility services unit, Mobilize, did not say when the vehicles would be put into service, but it is expected in the first half of this year.
The Limo is built in China by Renault Group’s partner, Jiangling Motors. The car has a range of 450 km (280 miles), which Renault says is enough to cover the average daily dedmand for a vehicle in ride-hailing or taxi use.
A 110-kilowatt electric motor, with the equivalent of 150 hp, propels the Limo from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in 9.6 seconds, with a top speed of 140 kph, Renault says.
The agreement with Cabify includes not only the Limo but also a full package of services called Mobilize Driver Solutions.
The package is available as a monthly subscription for taxi and private-hire vehicle drivers. It includes:
- The Limo vehicle, with a warranty for the duration of the contract (up to 300,000 km or six years)
- Roadside assistance, labor and parts (including wear and tear parts such as tires)
- Priority garage access
- Property and casualty insurance for transport of passengers, including towing and repairs.
Mobilize Driver Solutions will be available in Paris in autumn, Renault said, with other locations in Europe to be determined.
Renault CEO Luca de Meo has said that the Mobilize unit, which is led by former CFO Clotilde Delbos, will account for 20 percent of the automaker's turnover by 2030.
In addition to the Limo, other new and planned Mobilize vehicles include the Dacia Spring electric minicar; the Duo, a two-seat EV comparable to the Renault Twizy quadricycle; and the Hippo, a small electric delivery van.
The automaker is hoping to use the Limo to capture a share of Europe's ride-hailing market, which it says will grow from 28 billion euros ($33 billion) today to 50 billion euros in 2030. In addition to taxis and ride-hailing, the Limo can be used for medical or community transport services.
