We test the Mobilize Limo, the new subscription electric car from the Renault Group designed for private hire vehicles (VTC) and taxis

Mobilize is the new brand of the Renault Group dedicated to new mobility that aims to solve the increasingly common urban problems of traffic, parking, pollution and noise, offering a new VaaS (Vehicle as a Service) offer, that is, a service aimed exclusively at urban mobility and logistics operators.

Its first weapon is called Mobilize Limo, a new 100% electric vehicle that will only be sold through subscription and whose target audience comprises three market segments: private individuals, logistics operators and fleets.

Just two weeks ago, Mobilize closed its collaboration agreement with the Spanish transport company Cabify, to which it has supplied 40 units of its Limo to begin operating imminently until the end of the year, with the city of Madrid being the first place where this new brand will begin providing its service.

Mobilize Driver Solutions, a modern, agile and sustainable service

Urban mobility is in full transition and has been growing steadily for some years, especially with the emergence of VTCs, which is estimated to grow by 80% by 2030, the ideal moment for Mobilize Driver Solutions to offer an attractive proposition to its drivers, flexibly accessible with a minimum commitment of 3 months and offering a great all-inclusive service package.

Within this package we find nine key points, such as access to the electric vehicle, access to charging services with the Business Pass card (+250,000 charging points in Europe), comprehensive professional insurance, warranty for the entire duration of the contract, repairs at Renault Group workshops, scheduled maintenance, 24-hour roadside assistance seven days a week, priority professional access to its workshops and a customer service line available at all times.

The Mobilize Limo on test

The key to this new subscription service lies in the new Mobilize Limo, a car we have been able to test, and which is undoubtedly a well-rounded product in terms of performance, comfort and, as the brand has particularly emphasized, its reliability, a key factor in a vehicle that will be destined to cover high annual mileage.

Starting with its technical specifications, the new Limo is a saloon with a three-box body, 1,610 kg of weight, 4.67 metres long, 500 litres of boot capacity, 160 CV of power and a range of 450 kilometres according to the WLTP cycle.

In the rear seats of the Limo, its 288 millimetres of knee room and practically flat floor offer very good habitability for up to 3 occupants, with comfortable seat cushioning, visible door panels and rear ventilation outlets with two USB charging ports and a small control panel that allows rear passengers to raise or lower the volume and change station or track.

Designed for comfort

Once we get behind the wheel, we will quickly understand why Renault has chosen this vehicle as the spearhead of this new service, as it offers great ride comfort thanks to its smooth suspension that filters out all road irregularities very comfortably, its seats and its light steering that makes manoeuvring effortless.

Ahead of the steering wheel, which has height and reach adjustment, we find a fully digital instrument cluster of 10.2 inches showing all vehicle information such as range, remaining battery percentage or the selected driving mode (which is a bit small in our opinion). In the central part of the dashboard, we find a touchscreen for the 12.3-inch infotainment system, which offers very good brightness and viewing angles, with wired compatibility for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, OTA updates and a smartphone app that allows fleet management.

Long range and sufficient performance

As regards its power, as we mentioned earlier, the new Mobilize Limo has an electric motor that delivers 118 kW (160 CV), a figure that, although it may seem modest, offers a perfect balance between power and range, resulting in a range figure that is very realistic compared with its homologated one. Paired with this motor is a 60 kWh battery manufactured by the Chinese manufacturer Farasis, which, according to the brand, is capable of adding 250 kilometres of charge in just 40 minutes.

The new Mobilize Limo also comes with an extensive list of driver assistance systems, among which we highlight the blind-spot system, adaptive cruise control, the 360-degree camera and front and rear parking sensors.

For the time being, the brand has not announced the prices of this service, so we will have to wait for them to be officially published.