FCA Bank Group has launched a new rental and mobility division called Drivalia to replace Leasys Rent.

The new company will position itself as an independent operator, no longer linked to a single car manufacturer.

The move comes as Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance seeks to acquire 100% of FCA Bank from Stellantis in the first quarter of 2023.

Back in December last year, Stellantis revealed plans to accelerate its turnover from software-enabled services and subscriptions to £3.4bn in 2026 and £17bn in 2030 as its transitions to a new role as a “sustainable mobility tech company”.

The automotive giant acquired the Share Now mobility operation previously founded as part of a joint venture between BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The OEM said that the addition of ShareNow would position its Free2move division as a world leader in mobility with more than six million customers worldwide.

Drivalia will offer a full range of mobility solutions, including electric car, car subscriptions and rental for all durations. The new company deals with mobility in all its facets, providing innovative mobility plans that combine flexibility, digital use, on-demand approach and sustainability.

Drivalia also announced the rebranding of its fully-electric car sharing service, LeasysGO!, which has been renamed e-GO! Drivalia. The service, which is already active in Turin, Rome and Milan with a fleet of only electric New Fiat 500s in free-floating mode (with no parking restrictions), will make its debut in France in the coming months and will then be launched in other major European countries.

"The FCA Bank Group is undergoing an important transformation phase in view of the first half of 2023, when Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance will become our sole shareholder, subject to regulatory approvals. A fundamental project, which starts today with the presentation of Drivalia" said Giacomo Carelli, CEO of FCA Bank and Chairman of Drivalia.

"Thanks to our innovative and customisable plans, and an extensive international presence, we aim to become a top European player in the mobility of tomorrow, which is going to be more sustainable and accessible".

FCA Bank has already entered into partnerships with such innovative brands as Tesla, VinFast, Mazda and ElectricBrands. In addition it signed up DR Automobiles, a fast-growing Italian company, the Koelliker Group, a storied importer and distributor of Asian brands in Europe, and the Campello Group, European importer of XEV, known for its electric quadricycles and microcars.

FCA Bank also made a move on the two-wheeler front, with deals with the iconic Harley-Davidson and with Fantic Motor, and on heavy commercial vehicles, joining forces with storied brand Ford Trucks. Moreover, through new pan-European contracts with Knaus Tabbert, Concorde, Carthago and Groupe Rapido, FCA Bank has expanded its footprint in the world of leisure vehicles.

Drivalia plans to double the number of stores it operates across Europe, with a planned network of 1,300 by 2025.

Currently, Drivalia has operations in seven European countries (Italy, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Denmark), but in 2023 it will expand to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Poland.

Drivalia's fleet consists of 55,000 vehicles, 30% of which is made up of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles today, that will become 50% in 2025.

Hendy Group has become the first franchised car retailer to offer a new car subscription offering through a partnership with newly relaunched Karzoom.

A new insurance solution from mobility focused insurance provider Zego has allowed Karzoom to transition from a daily rental to a car subscription solution in an evolution AM discussed with co-founder and former ASE chief commercial officer Mike Fazal last month.