FREE NOW integrates Kapten and announces changes in the management team

Mihai-Alexandru Cristea 23/09/2020 | 13:16

FREE NOW, Europe’s leading mobility provider, today launched its mobility services in France by integrating the services of Kapten. FREE NOW acquired the French ride-hailing provider in 2017. From today, the 26 million European users can start using the FREE NOW app in Paris, Nice and Lyon in addition to more than 100 other cities across Europe with their existing accounts through the FREE NOW app.

 

The integration of Kapten leads to changes in the FREE NOW management: Since Kapten as well as the FREE NOW Services are absorbed by the FREE NOW Group, Eckart Diepenhorst who led the FREE NOW Service in Europe will take over a new role as Chief People and Communications Officer of the whole FREE NOW business. Sébastien Oebel (photo), former Kapten CEO, will take over the role as COO and lead the ride hailing business across Europe.

“Ride hailing is an exciting field with great potential. I’m looking forward to building on the success of Kapten in France as well as upon the vision of FREE NOW making mobility available for everyone,” says Oebel.

Jonas Gumny, who was integral in the company’s transformation from taxi app to a global MaaS platform will leave the company to work on new projects. Marc Berg continues to lead the business as CEO.

 

FREE NOW starts operations in France

By merging the two companies, FREE NOW will be available in France for the first time.

“The integration of Kapten marks a new milestone for us, as France is one of the most strategic markets for ride-hailing in Europe. FREE NOW users will now have access to more than 30,000 drivers in France. And our data shows that our customers have been waiting for this moment: In 2019 alone we saw people opening our app and trying to use the FREE NOW service in France over 3.5 million times. From today, they can”, says Marc Berg.

While PHV services will be available for all users in France, users in Paris will also be able to book electric bikes via the FREE NOW app. The partnership with BOND Bikes will be extended to other cities later this year. Antoine Lieutaud, former Country Manager of Kapten and now General Manager of FREE NOW France is confident that the integration into the FREE NOW app will offer advantages for its users. “Our mission is to allow everyone to get the most efficient mobility service to move around cities in France and everywhere in Europe. We are also committed to supporting the transition to a more sustainable way of living by providing a wide range of environmentally friendly mobility services.”

To keep this promise, the company will set-up charging stations exclusive to FREE NOW partner drivers in Paris this autumn, in partnership with the RATP (Paris public transportation service) to encourage them to turn to electric vehicles. FREE NOW will soon expand its electric fleet in other French cities. The goal is to multiply by two the fleet and reach more than 1,200 electric cars in France by the end of 2020.

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