"We've Fully Recovered from Pandemic" – Mobility Moments with FREE NOW UK GM Mariusz Zabrocki

Mobility superapp FREE NOW is on a mission to make getting around easier in cities around the world — regardless of whether you're travelling via public transport, taxi, or e-scooter.

Last month, Transport for London renewed the company's license to operate within the British capital, an important sign of confidence for any mobility business in the country. Auto Futures spoke to Mariusz Zabrocki, FREE NOW's UK General Manager to find out more about the company's expansion across the country and the importance of its operations in London. 

What is your background and how did you get into mobility?

I worked in investment banking, then management consulting, ecommerce and the fintech industry. At the end of 2018, Chauffeur Prive, at that time No.2 ride-hailing company in France, approached me to launch the UK market for them. We rebranded to Kapten right before the launch in May 2019, and in 2020 we merged with FREE NOW, the Mobility Super App with the largest vehicle choice for consumers across Europe.

How fast is FREE NOW growing in the UK?

We’ve experienced very rapid growth in recent months across all our fleets. We’ve fully recovered from the pandemic and recently reached all-time-high levels. And we expect this growth to continue.

On a more granular level, we strengthened our position as a black cab leader in London with 81% of all newer generation black cab drivers already signed up to our platform. Our private-hire operations are also growing very rapidly in London, and we continue launching new fleet types. We have now the largest eScooter supply in London, and we’re about to have the largest eBiike supply as well. Outside of London, our Edinburgh operations skyrocketed recently, quadrupling in scale in the past two months alone.

How significant is TfL's renewal of the license to operate in London?

TfL’s renewal of our license to operate in London is of great significance to us. This license is one of the most complex to achieve globally, with several other industry
heavy-weights struggling to renew it in previous years. We currently hold the longest PHV license of the four largest operators in London and we are committed to investing and growing further in London and the wider UK market in the coming years.

How does FREE NOW support drivers?

FREE NOW aims to do as much as possible to support our drivers as their happiness is integral to the success of our business. We offer incentives such as referral bonuses,
re-engagement offers and daily and weekly quests and bonuses. In addition to monetary support, we host events such as football games to help establish a sense of community amongst our drivers.

Describe your partnership with HumanForest?

The partnership announcement came as FREE NOW recorded an all time high in eBike usage in the month of May, with numbers 35x higher compared with the beginning of the year. This increase demonstrated an obvious appetite for alternative and sustainable modes of transport in the capital. The integration of HumanForest, in addition to existing partnerships with Dott and TIER, means FREE NOW offers London’s largest multi-mobility fleet of over 3,000 dockless eBikes bookable in one app.

Not only does the partnership enable FREE NOW to meet demand, it also aligns with our sustainability focus. In 2020, FREE NOW became the first mobility platform to become Net Zero in all European markets. HumanForest is aligned with their ambitions to create a sustainable change through ensuring all its eBikes operate from zero emission and 100% renewable energy. Completing a record 150,000 trips in London in May alone, HumanForest saved 25 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere. Together we will be able to meet our aligned visions of creating active, safe and green cities, closing the gap between affordability and sustainability.

How will FREE NOW achieve its commitment to only have 100% zero emission capable vehicles on the app in the UK by 2025?

We have several key phases to achieve our sustainability ambitions which is to be the first mobility platform to become Net Zero in all key European markets by 2030 - starting with investment. Between 2021 and 2025, we intend on investing £20 million to support drivers. This will aid in phasing out vehicles from our app according to increasingly ambitious emission and age criteria, ahead of any regulatory requirements. We understand the role we have to play in driving the transition to electric vehicles so all trips via our app have been climate neutral since 2020 and we are proud to be the only
ride-hailing app to offer electric vehicle (EV) booking options for both PHV and black cab, to enable passengers to easily choose more sustainable vehicles whenever they travel. During the same period, further funding is invested into passenger marketing and discounts, aimed at promoting our electric vehicle fleet.

Through partnerships with eScooter and eBike operators, as detailed above, we are offering micro mobility options to our users. We choose partners who are the most responsible players in the industry, those who are utilizing technology to reduce waste, increase longevity and improve the safety of their offerings. We will continue partnering with local authorities, regulators and the Government to improve and introduce EV infrastructures.

What will urban mobility look like by 2030?

The future of transport is a fascinating topic that provides endless inspiration. At FREE NOW, we’re putting many of the beginnings of these technologies into action. Our platform also brings together disparate demand and supply together to save emissions, reduce dependence on private cars and increase the efficiency of urban mobility. Space elevators aren’t available quite yet, but watch this space. An impressive 63% of commuters have reported to actively consider the environmental impact of their journey, with a further 31% opting for the most sustainable route.

We recently conducted research into what the future of commuting will look like in the years to come. According to a study of 2,000 adults, 19% of respondents predicted the use of bullet-train speed transport, followed by body-chipped access (15%) and flying cars or pods (14%). It’s exciting to consider the ways in which technology might develop in the years to come to make for a more efficient and sustainable urban mobility scene.