SIXT first major car rental company to offer app-integrated charging, enabling seamless access to hundreds of thousands of charge points across Europe including Germany
- New product SIXT charge launched in partnership with Elli, a brand of the Volkswagen Group, making the entire charging experience easy and seamless with a single log-in – from finding charge points to billing charging sessions
- Following the launch in the Netherlands, SIXT continues to roll-out its charging solution across Europe: SIXT charge is now also available in Germany, Austria, France, Belgium and Luxembourg
- The new solution aims to make a significant contribution to breaking down barriers that have so far prevented many people from using e-mobility
Pullach, February 27, 2024 – SIXT continues to make the e-mobility experience even more seamless and easy for customers in further European countries, introducing its charging solution SIXT charge in Germany, Austria, France, Belgium and Luxembourg. SIXT charge has been developed in partnership with Elli, a brand of the Volkswagen Group and one of the market leading providers of energy and charging solutions in Europe and has been initially launched in the Netherlands in December 2023. By rolling out SIXT charge in further European markets, customers currently have access to nearly 400,000 charge points in Elli’s public charging network that are all accessible without a physical card.
SIXT is the first major car rental company to offer its customers app-integrated charging, so that customers no longer need charging cards or third-party apps. EV charging features – from finding a charge point to billing – are now available right in the SIXT app at the tip of a finger, during rentals with SIXT as well as any time users need to charge an electrified vehicle. SIXT charge thus aims to make a significant contribution to breaking down barriers that have so far prevented people from using e-mobility.
Seamless EV charging across Europe via the SIXT app
SIXT charge provides all relevant functions for charging an electrified vehicle, starting with finding real-time available charge points nearby and comparing charge point pricing before starting a charging session. Furthermore, customers can use the app to check information like available plug types at specific charge points and to directly start and end charging sessions without the need for a charge card.
SIXT charge gives EV drivers access to Elli’s vast public charging network. The advantage of this large network is that customers only need one app to access charge points from various providers. Charging sessions via SIXT charge will be billed by Elli, using the credit card linked to the customer’s SIXT account. This means: customers do not need to register with another provider to pay for their charging sessions.
Nico Gabriel, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Sixt SE: “By rolling out SIXT charge successively in our European markets, we are expanding our extensive ecosystem of sustainable mobility offerings. By enabling easy and seamless charging at hundreds of thousands of charge points across Europe via the SIXT app, we are addressing some of the main challenges for the acceptance of e-mobility. Together with our partner Elli, we are dedicated to making sustainable mobility accessible for even more people.”
SIXT is partnering with one of Europe’s largest e-mobility service providers to deliver its charging solution. Elli provides customers access to hundreds of thousands of charge points across 27 European countries.
Giovanni Palazzo, CEO of Elli and Global SVP Charging & Energy of Volkswagen Group: “We are proud of partnering with SIXT. Collaborative innovations are key to accelerating e-mobility and driving a smart and sustainable future. As we open our large Elli charging network and our app services for SIXT customers, we create a great impact on how EV drivers move across Europe.”
In countries where SIXT charge is already available, customers can find the charging solution as an additional product in the SIXT app, next to SIXT’s offerings for car rental (SIXT rent), car sharing (SIXT share), ride-hailing (SIXT ride) and car subscriptions (SIXT+). Customers currently have access to nearly 400,000 charge points in Elli’s public charging network in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In the coming months, SIXT will continue to roll-out its charging solution for customers in further European countries, successively increasing the number of available charge points and countries.
About Elli
The Elli brand, with around 370 employees, takes care of customers’ needs at the interface between energy and mobility. Elli, as part of the Volkswagen Group, offers a broad range of energy and charging solutions in Europe and acts as a mobility service provider. The current product portfolio includes charging solutions for private customers and companies – from the company’s own home chargers and the flexible fast-charging stations (Flexpoles) to charging services and innovative smart green electricity tariffs. For charging in public spaces, Elli provides digital solutions and services for a seamless charging experience. Elli, which was founded in 2018, has offices in Berlin, Wolfsburg and Munich.
About the Volkswagen Group
The Volkswagen Group, with its headquarters in Wolfsburg, is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. The Group comprises ten core brands from seven European countries: Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, SEAT, CUPRA, ŠKODA, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The passenger car portfolio ranges from small cars all the way to luxury-class vehicles. Ducati offers motorcycles. In the light and heavy commercial vehicles sector, the products range from pick-ups to buses and heavy trucks. Around 675,800 employees around the globe are involved in vehicle-related services or work in other areas of business. With its brands, the Volkswagen Group is present in all relevant markets around the world.
In 2022, the total number of vehicles delivered to customers by the Group globally was 8.3 million (2021: 8.9 million). Group sales revenue in 2022 totaled EUR 279.2 billion (2021: EUR 250.2 billion). The operating result before special items in 2022 amounted to EUR 22.5 billion (2021: EUR 20.0 billion).
About SIXT
Sixt SE with its registered office in Pullach near Munich, is a leading international provider of high-quality mobility services. With its products SIXT rent, SIXT share, SIXT ride and SIXT+ on the mobility platform ONE the company offers a uniquely integrated premium mobility service across the fields of vehicle and commercial vehicle rental, car sharing, ride hailing and car subscriptions. The products can be booked through the SIXT App, which also integrates the services of its renowned mobility partners. SIXT has a presence in more than 100 countries around the globe. The company stands for consistent customer orientation, a lived culture of innovation with strong technological competence, a high proportion of premium vehicles in the fleet and an attractive price-performance ratio. In 2023 Sixt Group achieved consolidated pre-tax earnings of EUR 464.3 million and another significant increase in consolidated revenue to EUR 3.62 billion. Sixt SE has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 1986 (ISIN ordinary share: DE0007231326, ISIN preference share: DE0007231334).