Features
20 mar 19

10 Start-ups at the forefront of MaaS

All eyes are on start-ups when it comes to innovation, change and disruption. This is not different for MaaS. Since MaaS is per definition a combined mobility offer, it requires the combination of ideas and partners to create the best solution, as is done by these 10 remarkable MaaS startups.

Ecomobix

If you are looking to launch a shared mobility service, make sure to pass by Ecomobix, which describes itself as a ‘One stop smart mobility shop’. Ecomobix claims to be the only fully end-to-end platform for car sharing, ride sharing and eventually autonomous vehicles, in order to empower smarter mobility, such as active, electric, shared and autonomous mobility.

GoTo

Unique in its kind, GoTo claims to power the next generation of car sharing. As CEO Shirly Kalush explained during the Fleet Europe Smart Mobility Awards 2018, GoTo unites all forms of car sharing in one application, from peer-to-peer car sharing to corporat car sharing. In order to provide the best services, the start-up has various strategic partnerships with companies like Renault.

Bestmile

Combining human-driven and autonomous vehicles is the core business of Bestmile, which provides a smart mobility service platform for all kinds of mobility service providers, from OEM mobility services to rental car companies. The platform can be used for human-driven cars today, for autonomous cars in the future, and for hybrid fleets in the transition. Bestmile won the third prize of the 2018 Smart Mobility Start-Up of the Year Award.

Commuty

Commuty is not strictly a MaaS provider but neither is it only a parking management provider. Commuty made the clever combination of both parking and mobility management in order to reduce corporate parking costs by about 50%. The start-up combines the advantages of alternative mobility forms with remote working and parking management in an intelligent platform for businesses, saving employees time and money.

Karos

Karos has a different view on car sharing, it starts with understanding the mobility flow based on algorithms rather than GPS tracking only, next it uses machine learning to predict the mobility needs, and eventually, it uses all this information to optimise the match between passengers and drivers to fill the commuting cars. Even public transit is integrated in the application to provide full door-to-door intermodal transit.

Transloc

Many MaaS theories claim that public transit should remain the backbone of the system. This theory can be seen in the acquisition of Transloc by Ford last year, when the carmaker wanted to create a synergy based on their shared vision on mobility. Still, Transloc’s part in this cooperation to develop a successful MaaS system is crucial, since the start-up helps transit agencies optimise services with its microTransit Simulator, pilot projects or even on-demand solutions.

Padam and HaCon (Siemens)

Similar is the theory behind the partnership of Padam and HaCon (Siemens), who are aiming to use MaaS and SaaS to make public transport great again. The partnership wants to show how the success of MaaS is not about creating a one-size-fits-all-solution, but about offering a variety of combinations and transportation modes. Especially, to avoid ending up with a pile of shared bikes as happening in some Asian cities. Therefore, the partnership provides flexible and fixed route combinations to extend reach, such as ride hailing as a feeder of public transport or a shared bike to complete the last mile.

Whim

Whim is the rising Maas app, created by the Finnish startup MaaS Global, which has taken over the mobility market in its home base in Helsinki. Whims’ MaaS offer combines about every kind of transit in its application, from micro to mass transit, from public to private. Moreover, Whim made its application available in various cities, so you can use one account to access various transportation modes in various cities, saving you a lot of hassle. The end goal of Whim is to offer a mobility service that can conveniently take you everywhere, anywhere while meeting the sustainability goals.

Mobilleo

MaaS is supposed to provide a more efficient and convenient mobility offer, and at the same time a more sustainable one. Some companies are taking the last criteria to a higher level, such as Mobilleo. The Mobilleo platform has an in-built carbon footprint calculator which allows users to see the carbon emissions for each travel method, and adapt their journey depending on which is the most environmentally friendly one. As a result, MaaS can balance between convenience, time, costs, and sustainability.

TripGo

The kind of information a MaaS app can contain is limitless, as is showcased by TripGo, the travel app in operation around Greater Sydney, Australia. Besides finding out how you can get from A to B in the fastest, cheapest and most environmentally friendly way, the app includes useful information on your route of choice. From available passenger space on the next bus service to estimated cost of private vehicle trips (including wear and tear, carbon and petrol), or the timetables for all services from a specific stop. Moreover, if the app can access your calendar it can automatically provide trip options between scheduled events.

Authored by: Fien Van den steen