ALD Shaker – the no. 1 start-up incubator dedicated to smart mobility

“Promoting alternative mobility solutions means providing a development space for them.” It was in line with this strategy that ALD Automotive Luxembourg launched SHAKER in 2016. To celebrate Shaker’s first birthday, we take a look at this mobility project – still the first Luxembourg-based start-up incubator dedicated to corporate mobility solutions – putting our questions to Pierre-Yves Meert, Marketing & Innovation Manager at ALD Automotive and head of the Shaker project.

Pierre-Yves, can you explain to us what Shaker is? What were the reasons for starting this project?

The idea was born in 2012 at the time of our initial contacts with the Luxembourg start-up scene. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg wants to position itself as a start-up hub and is doing a lot more than just talking about it. There are numerous initiatives to attract foreign companies or to support local ideas. But there are still obstacles to innovation within large companies, which often find it hard to create an agile organisation around new technologies. They have a past and a heavy structure, and may struggle to “think outside the box”. Start-ups offer a more agile structure; they react quickly and bring a fresh mindset that incorporates this new vision of the “smart city”.

In order to innovate rapidly and efficiently to achieve more sustainable mobility solutions, it seemed natural to us to combine the two worlds. Vehicle leasing as we know it has evolved very little over the last 20 years. It is a very conservative sector that is still finding it difficult to get its head around smart mobility and its sustainable and innovative aspects. Introducing the start-up model within our company to rethink corporate mobility solutions was therefore a challenge but also the obvious thing to do.

Which start-ups have you selected? Can you tell us more about their projects and your partnership?

ALD Automotive is currently hosting two young start-ups: CarCoach and CarPay Diem.

CarCoach

Antonio Da Palma Ferramacho from CarCoach is a specialist in automotive technologies and an eco-driving and defensive driving expert. Together with CarCoach, in just a few months we developed an eco-driving programme that helps to save money: Efficient Driving. The training has so far been a great success with our customers, who are keen to make real savings by adopting a driving style that uses less fuel. It can also be included in the customer company’s training plan, and thereby qualify for government support.

CarPay Diem

CarPay Diem offers a mobile solution for fuel payments. The company now has an established profile in Luxembourg. We are working on providing this new payment method to our drivers, with the aim of optimising the user experience.

What are the prospects for the future?

After the first 12 months, this sustainable mobility project has seen some real results. As well as the two start-ups having successful launches, there has also been an internal change within our offices: discussions between employees and entrepreneurs are giving new impetus to innovation, which is becoming more readily accepted. The whole company is welcoming the change and believes in a different form of mobility for the future, with relevant and appropriate vehicle leasing solutions.

ALD Shaker – the no. 1 start-up incubator dedicated to smart mobility