Free2move and DriveItAway pitch flexible car ownership model at AutoTech Detroit

By AI, Created 11:01 PM UTC, June 04, 2026, /AGP/ – Free2move and DriveItAway used AutoTech Detroit to highlight a dealer-integrated subscription-to-ownership model for connected cars and EVs. The companies say the approach can help franchised dealers reach underserved buyers, move inventory faster and create recurring revenue.

Why it matters: - Free2move and DriveItAway are targeting a gap in the U.S. auto market: customers who need transportation but may not qualify for traditional financing right away. - The model is designed to give dealers another way to turn inventory into revenue while also creating a path to ownership for more buyers. - The approach could matter most as connected cars and EVs push dealerships toward more software-driven, data-enabled business models.

What happened: - Free2move took part in AutoTech Detroit on June 4, 2026, to discuss “Reimagining Ownership: Flexible Ownership Models for Connected Cars and EVs.” - The event focused on how Free2move’s collaboration with DriveItAway can create new paths to vehicle access and ownership. - Free2move is the global mobility brand of Stellantis. - The companies described a dealer-native mobility model built for franchised dealerships.

The details: - The model combines flexible vehicle access, subscription-to-ownership technology, connected-vehicle oversight, automated billing and dealer workflow integration. - Free2move provides mobility infrastructure and digital marketplace capabilities. - DriveItAway brings customer onboarding, subscription administration, automated billing and real-time operational controls. - The system is designed to work inside existing dealership workflows rather than as a standalone subscription pilot. - The platform is intended to convert eligible vehicles into subscription-ready assets faster. - The companies say the structure can reduce aging-inventory exposure and create recurring revenue opportunities. - Program data shared by Free2move and DriveItAway shows the model operating in 40 major U.S. cities. - The program includes participation from 10 large dealer groups and more than 50 rooftops. - Reported results include 15% to 20% incremental new-vehicle sales in participating deployments. - One dealership rooftop reported 53 new-vehicle placements in a year. - The companies also point to additional service revenue potential because subscription vehicles can generate repeat service visits through the dealership network. - Customers get flexible monthly vehicle access, immediate access to new or reliable vehicles and a structured pathway to ownership. - The model also aims to reduce commuting barriers and provide a more predictable digital-first experience. - Free2move and DriveItAway say the arrangement can help dealers serve a broader set of customers while supporting sales and recurring revenue.

Between the lines: - The pitch is less about replacing car ownership and more about broadening how customers get into vehicles. - For dealers, the appeal is operational as much as financial: move cars, serve more shoppers and keep those customers inside the dealership’s service ecosystem. - The companies are framing flexible ownership as a bridge between affordability pressures today and the connected-mobility market of tomorrow. - The recurring-revenue angle suggests dealers may be looking beyond one-time transactions to longer customer relationships.

What’s next: - Free2move and DriveItAway are positioning the model as scalable for more franchised dealers. - The companies are pushing the idea that flexible ownership can expand demand while protecting dealership profitability. - Free2move says the model can help dealers build stronger customer relationships across the full vehicle lifecycle.

The bottom line: - Free2move and DriveItAway are betting that flexible access plus a path to ownership can unlock new buyers, speed inventory turnover and create durable dealer revenue.