Automotive heavyweights celebrate stellar year for latest venture at new head office opening
As 2023 draws to a close, the team behind the all-inclusive car subscription provider and technology platform Drive Fuze and motor industry figureheads, Tony Bramall and Peter Jones, have celebrated a successful first year of trading.
Drive Fuze launched its convenient proposition in January of this year and now has a fleet of vehicles out on subscription, giving drivers a hassle-free, flexible and cost-effective way to get a new or nearly new car, quickly.
It is now offering its unique, modular software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution out to manufacturers, dealers, leasing and rental companies looking to offer their own branded subscription products – a key growth area for the business in the year ahead.
The Drive Fuze board – assembled by chairman Nick Rothwell, former chairman and CEO of Ford Credit Europe and former board director and founder’s advisor at Bipi – has extensive experience in managing car deliveries, collections, fines, repairs and servicing, and includes an experienced chief technology officer with a background in automotive, enabling the business to offer a more vertically-integrated subscription proposition than its competitors.
To date, the business has been run from Thurleigh Airfield Business Park, where its fleet will continue to be based, along with its operations teams. This month, its footprint has expanded to include new premises at Milton Keynes, now home to its customer service, marketing, technology and finance departments.
Tony Bramall is the former shareholder and chairman of CD Bramall and co-founder of Bramall and Jones – and recently sold his significant share in dealer group, Lookers. Peter Jones is the investor representative on the Board of Drive Fuze and former commercial director at Rover and Inchcape. Other roles held include former MD of C D Bramall, co-founder of Bramall & Jones, former CEO of Lookers PLC, and former chair of Vertu Motor Group.
Both bring extensive motor industry knowledge and experience and are actively supporting the founding team.
Bramall has invested in Drive Fuze alongside the four founding members Chairman Nick Rothwell, CEO Martin Parsons, CTO Richard Baker and Simon Withey, owner of Hudson Kapel 101 Ltd and co-founder of SMH Fleet Solutions, creating an enviable and compelling investment team.
Jones said: “Car subscriptions are expected to account for up to 15 per cent of new car sales by 2030 , as people move away from ownership to usership in all parts of their lives. I am incredibly excited to be a part of Drive Fuze, because I’m confident that the team has the automotive and tech expertise – and a unique, best-in-class end to end solution – needed to unlock the massive potential in the market.”
Tony Bramall added: “Subscription offers an affordable, flexible, all-inclusive option to the consumer to upgrade their car, getting into a new vehicle with no hassle. We have an excellent team at Drive Fuze headed by ex-European Ford Credit lead Nick Rothwell who sat on the Bipi Board prior to its sale, and I’m confident it will prove to be very successful.”
James Birch was previously managing director at Leasys and is now chief operating officer at Drive Fuze. He commented: “All-inclusive subscriptions are a fairer and more transparent option for drivers, who are choosing the car they want, rather than the deal they’ve been sold, and who can change cars without hefty fees should their circumstances change.
“The strength of our consumer fleet is proof of concept for our proposition. Now we’re in talks with dealers, leasing providers and rental companies about using our software and operational capability as a new way to bring in revenue and make their assets work harder. I was looking for a solution like this in my previous role and couldn’t find anything in the market that was suitable.
“We’ve got big things coming in 2024. Our new head office gives us headroom for continued growth as we grow our B2C and B2B business next year and beyond.”