“The synergies fit” – “Lucky Car” joins Eloop-Carsharing

In 2008 Ossi Matic, actually a trained plumber, opened his first “Lucky Car” branch in Brunn am gebirge (Lower Austria). Since then, the car workshop chain (partly due to the acquisition of Midas in 2019) has grown considerably to 41 locations in Austria. In addition, last year the first step was taken abroad with a branch in Switzerland. “Business near Zurich is going very well,” said Mitra Kos, who has been running the company since 2021. That is why they want to open a second branch there by the beginning of 2023 at the latest.

Fleet customers are also expected to contribute more to sales in the future. That is why the company has now invested a six-figure sum in car-sharing provider Eloop. The Viennese start-up, which also involves ex-football professional Andreas Ivanschitz, offers us a pure electric fleet with 200 Tesla Model 3 and is about to launch in Germany. “The synergies fit,” says Kos. Lucky Car keeps the vehicles in good condition. At the same time, the entrance opens the door to the neighbours. The arrival there is planned for 2023.

But by 2025, 24 franchise stores are still to be opened in Austria, mainly in the federal states. Vösendorf and Stockerau (both in Lower Austria) are coming this year, as well as a second location in Graz in 2023. Tyrol and Vorarlberg are also on the agenda. “However, due to the global situation, we have become a bit more cautious,” Kos says. However, the target of almost doubling turnover from around 31 to 32 million euros this year to 60 million euros in 2025 remains intact. Currently, supply problems with spare parts (e.g. at Tesla) stand in the way of the company’s motto to repair any paint and body damage within 72 hours.

Then there are the high energy prices. On average, prices will have to be adjusted by ten percent. In any case, customer demand is still high – also because new cars are scarce and therefore more money is being invested in existing vehicles.