These 6 French mobility startups

Six mobility-focused companies are now part of the government’s financial and logistical startup support project.

As part of the France 2030 investment plan and the France Recovery plan, the French government announced support for six companies in the mobility sector within the “French Tech Next 40/120” project.

The project is a government support program for new French startups. Including the income of already supported companies and the 27 startups added, over 11.3 billion euros were accumulated in 2022.

Electra, FlyingWhales, Zeplug are the three mobility startups joining the “Next40” class. They join Blablacar, Verkor, and NW Storm.

Startups in this “Next40” class either have:

• The “Unicorn” status (valuation of one billion dollars);
• Achieved a funding round of at least 100 million euros between 2020 and 2022.

What do these companies chosen by the government for mobility do?

Already-present companies in the “French Tech Next 40”

You already know the giant French carpooling platform Blablacar. You are familiar with its logo in the shape of quotation marks and its low-cost “BlablaBus” buses. Blablacar has established itself as one of Europe’s leading carpooling platforms, with 26 million active members in 2022, almost a third of the French population. This platform offers an alternative to airplanes and trains over long distances. The joy and good humor are shared among all vehicle occupants.

The company NW Storm, which raised over 300 million euros in June 2022, enables its parent company NW Groupe to achieve “unicorn” status. This business offers electricity storage services (useful during production peaks) and electric vehicle charging stations. The CEO aims to install 600 IECharge charging points on the electric vehicle charging network by the end of 2023.

Verkor is a company specializing in the development and manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries, founded in 2020. This company has supported the government-led giga factory project for low-carbon battery cells. It is based in Grenoble.

Companies joining the “French Tech Next 40” in 2023

Flying Whales manufactures dirigibles, aiming to transport goods to hard-to-reach or remote locations away from main roads. Based in Suresnes (92), they plan to launch their first freight flights in 2024. No passengers for now, but cargo transport of up to 60 tons!

Zeplug and Electra specialize in daily electric vehicle charging stations. Zeplug offers users the possibility to install a charger at home or at work, enabling safe daily travel. Electra, on the other hand, is developing charging stations at 0.54 euros per kWh across France, including 17 in the Île-de-France region. Five additional charging stations are under development in Île-de-France.

All these companies help the government strengthen its position as a player in the mobility of tomorrow.

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