Insights and news from the ATOM Mobility team

2025 has been a defining year for shared mobility, digital rentals, and ride-hailing. Competition is stronger, operational costs are rising, and users expect instant, reliable digital experiences. Operators who succeed are the ones who automate more, reduce friction, and stay flexible with hardware, payments, and integrations.

This year, ATOM Mobility shipped a series of features designed to help operators achieve exactly that:
grow revenue, reduce costs, improve fleet quality, and scale into new markets with less complexity.

Here are the 10 most impactful (out of more than 70) features ATOM Mobility released in 2025, and why they matter.

1. OpenAPI (supported by all 3 modules - vehicle sharing, digital rental and ride-hail)

The launch of ATOM’s OpenAPI marks a major step forward for operators seeking greater flexibility, automation, and integration possibilities.

What it is
A fully documented API layer allowing operators and partners to build custom flows, integrations, booking systems, analytics dashboards, or MaaS connections on top of ATOM Mobility.

Who it helps
All verticals: micromobility, car-sharing, moped sharing, rentals, ride-hail, and enterprise partners.

How it works
OpenAPI enables third-party developers to build on top of the ATOM Mobility infrastructure, allowing seamless integrations with external apps, internal tools, and automated workflows. With OpenAPI, operators can extend their service in almost any direction: a partner app (like FreeNow or Uber) can show your vehicles, unlock them, and process payments on your behalf; or internal systems can trigger automated actions - such as sending a survey email after every completed ride. The possibilities are nearly unlimited, giving operators full flexibility to innovate and scale however they choose.

Why it matters
- Enables deeper integrations with partners and local platforms
- Supports custom business logic and automations
- Makes it easier to enter new markets with local-specific requirements
- Opens the door to MaaS distribution and enterprise collaborations

2. Sign-In with Apple & Google - A smoother first-time user experience (all modules)

Across mobility, the registration flow is often the first point of friction. ATOM Mobility introduced modern authentication options to simplify onboarding.

What it is
One-tap sign-in using Apple ID or Google Account instead of relying solely on SMS verification.

Who it helps
All operators - especially those targeting tourists, or markets with unreliable SMS delivery.

How it works
When creating a new account or logging in, users can choose to log in/register using Apple ID or Google Account - this will allow account creation in just 2 taps.

Why it matters
- Faster user onboarding experience -> happier rider -> more frequent rides
- Fewer SMS-related issues (and lower SMS related costs) and failed verifications
- Reduced support load from login problems

3. Multipurpose side menu button (all modules)

What it is
A customizable slot in the app menu where operators can add up to five external links - websites, ecommerce pages, tour pages, extra FAQ pages, social media, partner offers, etc.

How it works
- Enable in Settings → System preferences → External links
- Add titles + URLs
- Links automaticaly appear in the app under “More”

Value for operators
- A space where you can display any information you consider important for the user
- Supports cross-promotion and partnership campaigns
- Allows communication updates without app releases
- Creates additional monetisation opportunities, such as launching your own e-commerce or merchandise shop

4. Pre-ride questionnaire (all modules)

What it is
A form that users must complete before starting a ride - ideal for compliance, reporting, invoicing, or gathering important data.

Who it helps
Operators needing regulatory data, reporting, consent collection, or structured user feedback.

How it works
Create a question (or several) in “Customer form” -> Group questions into a pre-ride form -> Assign a form to specific vehicle models/classes.
Once completed, the customer must answer predefined questions before starting the ride. Their responses appear in both customer and ride exports. For example, you can ask for a personal ID code, legal address, or any other required information.

Value for operators
- Helps meet regulatory or municipal requirements
- Ensures correct invoicing details
- Provides a structured way to capture essential user data

‍

5. Driver revenue auto-distribution (Stripe & Adyen, ride-hail)

‍What it is
Automatic payout splitting: driver earnings go to the driver’s payout account, and platform commission goes to the operator - all processed automatically after each ride.

Who it helps
Ride-hail operators using Stripe or Adyen.

How it works
- Operator has a Stripe/Adyen merchant account
- Drivers onboard as payout recipients
- After completed rides, payouts split automatically
- Supports mixed payment methods (cash and non-cash)

Value for operators
- Reduces manual payout work
- Minimises accounting errors
- Improves driver experience through transparency and instant pay out
- Makes scaling easier when the driver base grow

6. Set a manual vehicle location (vehicle sharing & digital rental)

What it is
A tool to override or manually set a vehicle’s GPS position when IoT data is unavailable (no IoT placed on the vehicle at all) or inaccurate.

Who it helps
Operators with underground parking, poor GPS coverage, or long-term rentals without IoT can use this setup. A typical scenario is long-term bike rental without IoT: the user completes ID verification, payment, and booking in the app, then sees the vehicle assigned to a predefined location (station) where it is picked up and later returned. This serves as a workaround for vehicles that do not support IoT or where adding IoT device is too costly.

How it works
Edit vehicle → update “Location” field. The system assumes this as the correct coordinate. Works for individual vehicles or via mass import.

Value for operators
- Avoids user frustration when vehicles appear in the wrong location
- Supports business modesl with fleets operating without IoT devices

7. Offer your price - rider-controlled pricing (ride-hailing)

What it is
A flexible pricing feature that lets passengers propose their own fare - higher or lower than the system-calculated price, within limits set by the operator. Drivers see the offer instantly and can choose to accept or reject it.

Who it helps
Ride-hailing operators in competitive, price-sensitive, or highly dynamic markets where price shifts demand quickly.

How it works
When requesting a ride, the user selects “Offer your price”. A slider or +/– buttons allow them to adjust the fare within operator-defined boundaries. If the user lowers the price, the app explains that the offer may reduce the chance of driver acceptance.
Drivers see a clear banner showing whether the rider is offering more or less than the standard fare. Drivers can accept or decline based on their preference.
Operators can enable or disable the feature per vehicle class.

Why it matters
- Creates a clear differentiator in markets dominated by fixed-fare competitors
- Helps convert riders who compare multiple apps before booking
- Gives drivers more control over their earnings and decisions, improving transparency and satisfaction
- Supports better ride matching during off-peak hours or less profitable routes
- Allows operators to experiment with more flexible pricing strategies without changing their core fare model

‍
8. Web-booker for digital rental - frictionless bookings directly from your website (digital rental)

‍What it is
A lightweight, embeddable booking widget that lets customers reserve a rental vehicle directly from your website - without installing the mobile app first. It’s designed to capture spontaneous bookings, convert website visitors, and unify online and in-app rental experiences.

Who it helps
Car, moped, and bike rental operators, as well as hospitality and tourism partners such as hotels, resorts, coworking spaces, real-estate developers, and travel service providers.

How it works
Every operator receives a branded rental URL: merchantname.atommobility.com/rent
Users select their area, vehicle type, and rental period directly in the widget. Once confirmed and the account created, the booking syncs automatically into the ATOM Mobility dashboard. Customers see a confirmation screen with a QR code to open the booking in the mobile app. Payment, ID verification, and vehicle unlock actions are completed in the ATOM Mobility-powered app before the trip begins.
The widget automatically adapts to the operator’s brand color for a visually seamless integration. In the dashboard, each booking displays its source: App, Web, or Booker - helping operators track where rentals originate.

Why it matters
- Converts first-time users browsing your website into paying customers - without forcing an app install
- Enables plug-and-play rental flows for partners such as hotels, rental desks, cafés, coworking spaces, or tourist spots
- Supports QR-based rental journeys from physical locations
- Reduces friction for users who want a fast, simple booking experience
- Helps operators expand distribution with minimal effort, unlocking new sales channels
- Unifies online and mobile rental flows under a single backend and operational system

Demo: https://app.atommobility.com/rental-widget

‍

9. Vehicle status change automation (vehicle sharing & digital rental)

What it is
Bad user experiences often happen when several riders encounter the same faulty vehicle. ATOM Mobility now prevents this automatically. Automation rules detect problematic vehicles and instantly set them to “Needs investigation,” hiding them from the user app so the operator can inspect the vehicle before the next rider can take it.

Who it helps
Sharing and rental operators managing medium or large fleets.

How it works
System monitors low ratings, repeated short rides, and user reports. When triggered, it:
- creates a maintenance task
- switches vehicle status
- hides the vehicle from users

Why it matters
- Prevents recurring complaints from the same issue
- Reduces refunds and reputational damage
- Helps maintain a healthier, more reliable fleet
- Automates routine operational checks

‍

10. New integrations (10) - a broader ecosystem for hardware, payments & compliance (all modules)

What was added
2025 brought a wave of new integrations that give operators more flexibility in choosing hardware, payments, charging, and regulatory tools. What was added:
- Ridemovi IoT
- Wave payment gateway
- Linka smart lock support
- 2Hire IoT
- Kuhmute charging stations
- Eskiz.uz OTP service
- Atmos payment gateway
- Chiron API (regulatory)
- Fitrider charging station
- Azericard payment gateway

Why it matters
- Easier entry into markets with local payment or OTP requirements
- More hardware options for scooters, bikes, e-bikes, and cars
- Better compatibility with charging infrastructure
- Reduced integration time when expanding
- Support for regulatory compliance where required

These ten features represent only a small selection of what we delivered this year. In total, our team shipped more than 70 new features, dozens of integrations, and countless small improvements that quietly make the platform faster, more stable, and more enjoyable for operators and end-users every single day. Behind each release is a team focused on one idea: helping entrepreneurs build stronger, more efficient, and more profitable mobility businesses.

And we’re just getting started.
Our 2026 tech pipeline is already packed with ambitious and exciting solutions - from deeper AI-powered automation to smarter fleet intelligence and new tools that will change how operators run mobility services. We're looking forward to pushing the industry even further together.

Is car sharing profitable in 2025?

🚗💡 Is car sharing still a profitable business in 2025? Short answer – yes, if done right. From rising fleet costs to smarter user behavior and green transport trends, the shared mobility game is changing fast. Learn what makes a car sharing business work today – and why some succeed while others shut down. 👉 Real stories, data-backed tips, and practical advice for operators and mobility founders.

July 23, 2025

In 2024, the global car-sharing market was valued at approximately €8.9 billion, with Europe accounting for over 50.2% of that total. Analysts forecast it will grow at a CAGR of 11.8% between 2025 and 2033, reaching roughly €24.4 billion by 2033. This blend of urbanization, environmental regulation and a growing preference for flexible mobility continues to create fertile ground for operators - yet not every service finds a clear path to profitability.

Success hinges on your location, business model, fleet, operations and local market dynamics. There are strong success stories, but also many high-profile failures. Here’s a closer look at what really affects profitability in today’s car-sharing market - and what you can learn from real-world cases.

What makes a car-sharing business profitable?

Profitability in car sharing boils down to securing enough paid usage while keeping costs under control. Every unused hour or unnecessary expense erodes margins.

Key factors:

Fleet utilization – the most important metric. Cars need to be in use several hours each day to cover fixed costs.
Operational efficiency – cleaning, charging, relocation, maintenance and insurance add up quickly.
Fleet acquisition – leasing usually optimizes cash flow and scalability, but still carries fixed monthly expenses.
Pricing and competition – too low cuts margins; too high drives away users. Finding the right balance is essential.
Tech stack – a robust platform automates operations, improves customer experience and reduces support costs.

The operators who win are those who combine solid daily usage with lean operations.

❌ PANEK S.A. suspends its car-sharing service to focus on rental

29 March 2025 marked the end of Panek’s car-sharing experiment. Despite peaking at 2 700–3 000 vehicles, Panek never turned a profit in over seven years.

About Panek

Launch: Car sharing added in 2017 by Maciej Panek, entirely internally funded (no VC)
Fleet mix: City cars, hybrids, EVs, cargo vans and vintage models
2023 acquisition: Regional Rent (+ 45% fleet), making Panek Poland’s largest integrated rental/operator

2024 performance

Revenue split: Car sharing ≈ 20 % of total. Traditional rental 80 %
Utilization: 0.7–1.0 rides/car/day
Maintenance & overhead: Up to €690/car-month
Profitability: Negative since inception

Why it failed

Under-utilization: < 1 ride/day vs. ~ 2-4 rides/day needed to cover fixed costs
Price wars: Fierce competition in Warsaw eroded margins and drove up customer-acquisition costs
High OPEX: Parking, maintenance, insurance and vandalism pushed costs > €690 per car each month
Tech drag: Two-year outsourced app development cycle meant poor UX and slow feature delivery
No public support: Missed out on parking incentives or EV subsidies

Faced with persistent losses, Panek’s leadership refocused on profitable core segments: daily/weekly rentals, corporate leasing and Fleet-as-a-Service.

🚗 WiBLE Spain finds its profitable lane in Madrid

WiBLE (50/50 joint venture between Kia Europe and Repsol) launched in 2018 and has just closed its second consecutive year with positive EBITDA.

Fleet: 600+ plug-in hybrids (Kia Niro, XCeed, Ceed Tourer)
2024 revenue: €6.93 million (+ 5% vs. 2023)
Usage: ~1 500 trips/day ⇒ 2.5 rides/car/day
‍Diversification: Monthly rentals (€599+) now 5% of revenue‍
Market share: ~19% of Madrid’s car-sharing market

Key enablers:

Higher utilization – rides up 15% YoY, driving a 10% lift in core revenue
Fleet scale efficiencies – added 150 vehicles in 2 years, lowering per-unit costs
Service diversification – multi-day and monthly rental options opened new revenue streams

After five years of absorbing fixed-cost drag and depreciation, WiBLE now leverages Madrid’s regulatory environment (low-emission zones, parking benefits) and delivers lean, tech-driven operations.

🚗 SOCAR South Korea: scale + longer rentals

SOCAR (backed by SoftBank, SK Inc. and Lotte Group) operates 20 000 vehicles, generates nearly €300 million in annual turnover and has 20% of South Koreans signed up.

Model: Station-based, pay-per-minute with average rental duration of a whoping 12 hrs
Segmentation trick: Aging cars shift from on-demand sharing to long-term monthly rentals (10% of revenue), extending resale life with minimal depreciation impact

By pairing massive scale with savvy car lifecycle management, extra-long rental duration, SOCAR converts high utilization into robust profitability.

🚗 Carguru (Latvia)

30 August 2024: Carguru (est. 2017) acquired EV-focused OX Drive (est. 2021), adding 200+ Tesla to the fleet.

Growth: From just 30 cars and total budget below 500 000 EUR (2017) to over 1 000 cars (mid-2025) via leasing and strategic partnerships
2023 turnover: €4 million; 435 000 trips (+35.9 %); 7 million km driven; profit €375 600

Outcome: A combined ICE, hybrid and EV fleet—backed by local expertise and strategic acquisitions - has driven strong growth and high utilization.

🎯 Core suggestions for aspiring operators

Target 2–4 rides/day per vehicle
- Leverage dynamic/off-peak pricing, B2B partnerships (hotels, offices) and event tie-ins.
Contain OPEX via automation
- Use predictive maintenance, remote diagnostics and gig-economy cleaning/relocation.
Secure municipal support early
- Negotiate parking incentives, EV charging access and low-emission zone permits.
Choose your tech wisely
- Build an in-house development team for full control with higher costs, or adopt a proven white-label platform for speed to market, stability and lower costs.
Validate unit economics before scaling
- Prove break-even utilization in one zone before expanding to others.

With clear benchmarks and smart execution - drawing on lessons from Panek, WiBLE, SOCAR and Carguru - car sharing can still be a highly profitable component of a modern mobility portfolio.

If you’re planning to start or improve your service, ATOM Mobility is ready to help. We’ve built the platform and supported dozens of teams worldwide - reach out, and we’ll share what we’ve learned.

‍

Image credit: https://kursors.lv/2018/03/13/carguru-palielina-autoparku-un-paplasina-darbibas-zonas-mikrorajonos

Introducing ATOM Mobility OpenAPI: Empowering mobility operators with seamless integrations

✅ ATOM Mobility has launched OpenAPI v1 - giving vehicle-sharing, rental, and ride-hailing operators full control to integrate their services into MaaS platforms, websites, and partner apps. Discover how this powerful tool can help you expand reach, automate operations, and drive more bookings.

July 9, 2025

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the ATOM Mobility OpenAPI v1 - a major step toward enabling mobility operators to seamlessly integrate their services with third-party platforms, partner systems, and custom applications.

With the OpenAPI, ATOM Mobility opens up new possibilities for businesses running vehicle-sharing, rental, and ride-hailing services to extend their digital reach, enhance customer experience, and unlock new revenue streams.

What is an OpenAPI and why does it matter?

An OpenAPI (or application programming interface) is a set of standardized protocols that allows external software systems to interact with your platform. In simple terms, it acts like a bridge between your mobility service and the outside world — enabling secure data sharing and functional integration.

For mobility businesses, OpenAPIs have become a key tool for:

Displaying fleet availability in Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms
Enabling ride or rental bookings directly from external platforms (websites, apps, kiosks)
Automating back-office workflows and data pipelines
Enhancing customer service tools with real-time ride information

What makes ATOM Mobility’s OpenAPI different?

While many mobility providers offer GBFS (General Bikeshare Feed Specification) to share read-only data (ATOM Mobility will continue supporting GBFS) - such as vehicle locations and availability - these feeds are typically limited to visibility. Users still need to switch to a provider's app to complete the ride.

ATOM Mobility’s OpenAPI is different. It offers full read-write access to the core functions of your platform - similar to what operators can already do in the back-office dashboard. This means that third-party apps can not only display your vehicles but also handle booking, payments, and ride management entirely within their own interface.

This is a game-changer for expanding your service footprint beyond your app.

What’s included in OpenAPI v1?

The first version of the OpenAPI supports all core modules — Vehicle sharing, Digital rental, and Ride-Hailing — with both public and private endpoints for:

User registration and authentication
Vehicle discovery and availability
Zone rules, pricing, and ride logic
Starting and ending rides or bookings
Accessing ride history and user activity
Enhanced actions: skip wallet checks, trigger some commands, bypass OTP, and more

Typical use cases

Here are some examples of how mobility operators are already planning to use the ATOM OpenAPI:

1. Deep MaaS platform integrations

Connect your fleet to fast-growing MaaS platforms, for example:

umob - a Dutch mobility booking app that recently raised €3.5M to expand its "all-in-one" MaaS experience across Europe. With OpenAPI, your vehicles could be fully bookable and payable directly from their interface.
Moovit – a mobility super-app used by over 1.7 billion riders in 3,500+ cities. Traditionally, Moovit displays vehicles using GBFS and redirects users to provider apps - with OpenAPI, the entire booking could happen inside Moovit.
Jelbi (Berlin) - Germany’s flagship MaaS platform, integrating 12+ operators, including car-sharing, scooters, and public transport. A direct API integration offers visibility and usage on one of Europe’s most advanced multimodal networks.

2. Bookings via your website

Allow users to book rentals or ride directly from your website without needing to download an app upfront. This is especially useful for tourists, first-time users or hotels. The app would only be needed to unlock the vehicle or track the driver (in case of ride-hailing).

3. B2B partner integrations

Want to offer mobility through hotels, offices, or real estate platforms? Now they can show your vehicles and complete bookings within their apps - driving high-value B2B usage without manual overhead.

4. Customer support automation

Support agents can pull up a rider’s active trip data in external helpdesk tools using ride ID endpoints - improving efficiency and resolution speed.

5. Custom dashboards and analytics

Build your own reporting layer by pulling real-time and historical ride, user, and revenue data into tools like Power BI, Tableau, or custom CRMs.

How to enable the OpenAPI?

The OpenAPI is available to all ATOM clients on the Premium Plan, which includes:

Access to full OpenAPI documentation and developer tools
100,000 API requests per month included in your support fee
Technical assistance from the ATOM team for setup and testing

Ready to expand your mobility ecosystem?

Whether you’re exploring new channels, seeking B2B integrations, or joining a MaaS platform, the ATOM OpenAPI gives you the tools to scale faster and smarter. Want to learn more or schedule a call with our integrations team?
Contact us: https://www.atommobility.com/ask

Micro-mobility market consolidation heats up: ATOM Mobility acquires ScootAPI

In a significant move signaling further consolidation within the micro-mobility software sector, industry leader ATOM Mobility announced its strategic acquisition of ScootAPI. The deal, finalized on June 1, 2025, strengthens ATOM Mobility's dominant position in the B2B SaaS Micro-Mobility market.

June 16, 2025

In a significant move signaling further consolidation within the micro-mobility software sector, industry leader ATOM Mobility announced its strategic acquisition of ScootAPI.

The deal, finalized on June 1, 2025, strengthens ATOM Mobility's dominant position in the B2B SaaS Micro-Mobility market. This deal also marks a successful and timely exit for ScootAPI founder, George Kachanouski, who is already channeling his entrepreneurial energy into a new AI Venture in stealth mode for now.

For years, both ATOM Mobility and ScootAPI have been key players, providing essential software solutions for micro-mobility operators worldwide. This acquisition sees ATOM Mobility, led by CEO Arturs Burnins, proactively solidifying its market leadership. The move was driven by a strategic imperative to win the top spot in a competitive landscape by integrating ScootAPI’s valuable assets and client base.

‍
About ATOM Mobility:

Founded in 2018 by Arturs Nikiforovs and CEO Arturs Burnins, ATOM Mobility empowers entrepreneurs to launch and scale mobility platforms worldwide, including vehicle sharing (scooters, bikes, mopeds, cars), digital rental, and ride-hailing businesses. With a suite of products including customizable rider apps, comprehensive dashboards, operator apps, and robust analytics, ATOM Mobility supports over 200 projects and 35,000 vehicles, facilitating over 1,000,000 rides monthly. The company is committed to providing reliable, agile, and well-designed technology with a strong focus on customer revenue growth and system stability, aiming to be the leader in B2B SaaS for micro-mobility.

‍

About ScootAPI:

Founded in 2019 by CEO George Kachanouski, ScootAPI established itself as a significant player in the micro-mobility software space. The company delivered a robust white-label SaaS platform that empowered entrepreneurs and operators worldwide, successfully launching more than 50 distinct micro-mobility projects across diverse international markets. ScootAPI was dedicated to fostering 'smart' city transportation, thereby contributing to reduced CO2 emissions and an improved quality of urban life for communities worldwide.

"This is an acceleration moment for ATOM Mobility and the micro-mobility SaaS market as a whole," said Arturs Burnins, CEO of ATOM Mobility. "Acquiring ScootAPI aligns with our strategy to lead the industry and provide the most comprehensive, reliable, and innovative solutions to operators globally. We're excited to welcome ScootAPI’s clients into the ATOM Mobility platform, further accelerating the growth and efficiency of shared mobility worldwide."

For George, this move wasn't initially on his roadmap. He was invested in ScootAPI's growth. However, the recent explosion in AI technology sparked a new, compelling passion. “Selling ScootAPI wasn't something I was planning to do," George admitted. "We had built a good product, and the journey was far from over in my mind. But then the AI revolution really took off, and I found myself completely captivated by the potential of agentic workflows to automate business processes. The idea of building a new company in the AI space, something potentially even bigger and on a brand new frontier, became incredibly exciting."

As the transition moves ahead, George remains confident that ScootAPI's clients are in good hands. “ATOM Mobility has a clear vision and the technical depth to support operators long-term,” he said. “That was important to me. I didn’t want to hand things over to just anyone – I wanted to be sure the people relying on our platform would still be supported and able to grow.”

The integration of ScootAPI into ATOM Mobility promises a smooth transition for clients, who will now benefit from an expanded suite of features and robust support under the ATOM Mobility umbrella, further streamlining operations for micro-mobility entrepreneurs globally.

Top mobility conferences to attend this year: Must-see events for 2025

🌍 🚗 Want to stay on top of the latest trends in mobility? Check out the must-attend conferences in 2025! From urban transportation to micromobility, these events offer great networking opportunities and valuable insights into the future of mobility. 👉 ATOM Mobility will be at several events, so make sure to stop by our booth and chat with us!

June 5, 2025