Danish car subscription tech firm Dribe in search for UK partners

Car subscription tech firm Dribe claims it is getting a surge in interest from British dealerships in its digital end-to-end platform and subscription model.

Owned by Denmark's Semler Group and launched seven years ago, Dribe wants to expand in the UK and provide car retailers a highly automated way to incorporate short-term car subscriptions into their services.

On its website, it claims partners who take on its Dribe franchise can use it to activate inventory, allow long-term test rides of EVs, and improve outcome of pre-reg stock rather than discounted sale.

Last year a number of AM100 dealer groups began partnering another subscription business, Karzoom, including Sandicliffe, Eden Motor Group, Perrys and Hendy Group. 

Dribe claims it can reduce manual work through automated processes for billing and car inspections.

Designed to integrate with franchisees' existing operations and resources, the platform includes advanced data collection and business tools for targeted customer communication, comprehensive brand assets, an integrated website, and statistical modules for optimised operations.

Chief executive Jesper Hill-Kjærsgaard said the business has received numerous inquiries from UK car distributors, stating: "Many distributors want to incorporate subscriptions into their product line but lack the necessary resources to develop a new business area independently. Our plug-and-play model simplifies that process."

Hill-Kjærsgaard highlighted the British market's need for flexible car access, supported by a McKinsey & Company study showing that nearly half of British car distributors are open to trying a vehicle subscription.

Read our AM Insight: Isn't car subscription a far fetched fantasy?

Dribe’s first international franchisee, the Greek car distributor Kosmocar, has implemented the subscription model, leading to a steadily growing customer base and nearly 10,000 app downloads.

Kosmocar CEO Yiannis Emirzas said: "We chose Dribe’s plug-and-play solution to automate processes and simplify operations. It has elevated our brand’s positioning in the market as technologically strong, innovative, and focused on modern end-user needs. We have swiftly attracted a new and broader customer base."

Emirzas noted that the digital backend system has made everything from damage registration to invoicing more efficient, reducing resource requirements and increasing efficiency.