Vulog begins own car-sharing testbed in Lyon

Software provider Vulog is launching an electrified free-floating car-sharing service in the Lyon metropolitan area that will serve as a testing ground for new technological features. The service, called Leo&Go will use 100 of the fully-electric 100 Peugeot e-208s and 200 Toyota Yaris Hybrids.

This is Vulog‘s first foray into car-sharing. Until now, the software specialist has always made its mobility-related technology available to third parties. In 2019, for example, Vulog cooperated with Renault to pre-install its AiMA (Artificial Intelligence Mobility Applied) carsharing software in the Renault Zoe. Vulog is based in Nice, France and was founded in 2006. The company’s customers include Volkswagen, Kia, Stellantis, Toyota and Hyundai, as well as new mobility providers such as Repsol, Sumitomo, British Columbia Automobile Association, Mevo and Joco.

Now, in Lyon, Vulog will be operating a car-sharing service on its own. Leo&Go says it will use in-house technology to create an intuitive, convenient customer experience, including an AI function that positions the fleet to meet local user needs. Lyon will explicitly serve as a testbed for the new technologies that Vulog plans to offer its global partners through its AiMA platform in the future.

The motivation behind the new enterprise comes from the fact that the car-sharing sector has struggled to innovate and reach profitability as fast as other verticals like shared micromobility. This has been evident by the folding of offers, such as Car2Go, that have shuttered their services in major cities over the past two years. Vulag believes it can reinvigorate this sector by rapidly testing new technology solutions.

Vulog explains that through its Vulog Labs program, it will invite its shared mobility partners to submit ideas to be tested in Lyon. Already seeded are topics such as smart charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, as well as autonomous driving. “Vulog has developed unique technological expertise and know-how that we want to leverage to catalyze the next generation of car-sharing services,” says Vulog CEO Gregory Ducongé. “Operating Leo&Go will help us to better meet the expectations of our customers around the world by offering new solutions tested and proven at scale, helping them power their own shared mobility offerings of all kinds,” he explains.

Users can access Leo&Go via mobile app, initially in Lyon and Villeurbanne. Other surrounding municipalities will be added in the coming months. Vulog worked closely with local authorities, such as sharing regular data reports on trips, parking and multimodal use with the city of Lyon. Users, meanwhile, can park for free in parking spaces designated by the city. There are also parking and charging partnerships with popular destinations such as Lyon Saint-Exupery Airport, shopping centres and nearby ski resorts.

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