Mevo announces milestones

Wellington-based car share Mevo has announced a $30 million vehicle supply agreement with the Ebbett Group, one of New Zealand’s largest automotive retailers with 17 dealerships and locations representing 20 leading brands across the North Island.

As part of the Ebbett deal which will help expand Mevo throughout New Zealand, it has also acquired the Hamilton-based car share company Loop from March 31, a stepping-stone prior to its launch in Auckland later this year.

The milestone announcements put Mevo on track towards its biggest year yet, new data also showing phenomenal year-on-year growth, in spite of COVID-19 and various associated lockdowns.

Mevo users have taken more than 100,000 trips since its launch in 2016 – many of those between March 2020 and 2021 – removing 366 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere through the company’s climate positive offsetting.

The vehicle supply agreement with Ebbett and the Loop acquisition will play a large part in the next phase of Mevo’s explosive growth and support expansion in Wellington, Mevo founding director and chief executive Erik Zydervelt says.  

This is also a key milestone ahead of Mevo’s entry into Auckland and Hamilton later this year, he adds.

“The Loop team has built a great car share for Hamiltonians,” Zydervelt says.   

“It’s a real privilege to be welcoming the Loop community into the Mevo family, including Richard van den Engel bringing his outstanding industry experience to our board.

“Mevo has been an industry leader for the last four years, fundamentally changing how Wellingtonians think about transport.”

Loop director Richard van den Engel says it’s a great opportunity for Loop to join forces with Mevo.

“We’ve always been really impressed with the team there as they’ve got a great business model, are growing quickly and bring the same values to carshare and customer experience that we established at Loop.”

Hamilton City Council chief executive Richard Briggs says car share is a key transport option for the future of Hamilton. 

“We’ve loved having Loop on our streets and credit to the Ebbett Group for pioneering such a successful start-up.  I look forward to welcoming Mevo later in the year to continue the growth of this service in our city.”

Mevo is Australasia’s first free-floating climate-positive car share, delivering mobility on demand by curating a network of vehicles which members can pick up and drive as needed.

The company offsets all emissions involved with its fleets by 120% meaning members have a positive impact on the planet with every trip.

Founded in 2019, Loop has grown to more than 20 vehicles serving Hamilton and the surrounding areas. As Hamilton’s only car share provider it has made a huge impact in the city, particularly with business customers and those seeking a more flexible mobility solution.

Loop’s business development executive Lydia Smit will join the Mevo team as part of the transition.