EV Subscription Firm Autonomy Expands With AutoNation

Electric vehicle (EV) subscription company Autonomy has formed a partnership with automotive retailer AutoNation, the companies announced Tuesday (July 26).

“The partnership will support Autonomy’s electric vehicle product expansion from the Tesla Model 3 into several automaker brands as well as its geographic expansion across the United States, leveraging AutoNation’s nationwide footprint,” the firms said in a news release.

The collaboration will also see AutoNation support Autonomy’s plans to acquire up to 20,000 electric vehicles from automakers that make the most popular EVs. AutoNation is providing vehicle preparation and delivery in connection with Autonomy customer activations, along with maintenance, repair and reconditioning.

Scott Painter, Autonomy’s founder and chief executive, said the deal paves the way for a national expansion, with his company hoping to complete its 20,000 vehicle order in the next 12 to 18 months.

“Just as importantly, this also allows Autonomy to remain capital efficient and infrastructure light as we advance our mission to accelerate the adoption of EVs and scale subscriptions profitably,” Painter said.

Read more: EV Subscription Firm Autonomy Debuts in California, Plans for 15 Markets

Formerly known as NextCar Holding Company, Autonomy launched in California earlier this year. At that time, Painter said that EVs have reached a tipping point.

“Financial responsibility and the avoidance of debt is also at an inflection point and subscriptions have become a pervasive, sustainable business model and a cornerstone of modern digital life,” Painter said.

Earlier this year, Advance Auto Parts CEO Tom Greco projected the number of EVs and hybrid cars on the road will grow to 45 million by 2030.

See also: From Aging Cars to EVs to Record Gas Prices, Auto Parts Retailers Face Big Changes

That spurred the company to stock tens of thousands of EV parts, as well as the industry’s first aftermarket EV battery, to help meet this rising subset of demand.

“It’s not widely known by consumers that every single one of these [electric] vehicles requires a 12-volt battery,” Greco said, citing company research that shows batteries are not lasting as long as consumers anticipated.