Autonomy pivots to gas vehicles to keep the dream of car subscriptions alive

Autonomy is shifting course from an electric-vehicle first strategy to include gasoline-powered cars as it continues to pursue vehicle subscriptions. The startup announced it will make Ford pickups and SUVs available to customers in California, sourcing those vehicles from Los Angeles-based Galpin Motors, and said it will work with dealer partners in other states where it operates. The pivot follows a failed attempt to scale an EV-heavy fleet. In 2022 Autonomy pledged to buy 23,000 electric cars from 17 automakers, but within about a year the company’s fleet barely exceeded 1,000 vehicles and lost roughly one-third of its value amid an EV price war led by Elon Musk. Founder Scott Painter stepped in to keep the business afloat as many automakers moved away from subscription experiments. Autonomy’s subscription model charges a one-time fee (the company charged $1,000 for its EVs) and a monthly rate that varies by make and model, with customers able to cancel after the first month. CEO Fred Weick told TechCrunch the company is targeting groups who need quick, low-hassle access to vehicles — university students, military families, foreign workers and people seeking a “company car” experience — and that rising vehicle prices are making traditional purchase and financing harder for people with weak or no credit. The company still retains a fleet of a little more than 500 electric cars and says demand for EVs remains, particularly in California, but the new inclusion of internal combustion engine models reflects a wider industry reassessment. Other large fleet operators have also reversed early EV-heavy strategies: for example, Hertz moved away from holding a large number of Teslas and sold a majority of them in 2024 in favor of gas vehicles. Autonomy’s adjustment comes as new-car prices top $50,000 and used-vehicle costs rise, pressures that complicate ownership and financing for many buyers.