Autonomy pivots to gas-powered Fords to save car subscription model
The California startup is abandoning its all-electric ambition to attract customers priced out of traditional car ownership.
California-based startup Autonomy is integrating internal combustion engine vehicles into its fleet for the first time. The move marks a strategic retreat from the company's original all-electric vision in an effort to sustain its vehicle subscription business.
To execute the pivot, Autonomy has partnered with Los Angeles-based Galpin Motors to provide Ford gas vehicles for its California customers. The expanded fleet will include the Mustang, Ranger, F-150, Bronco Sport, Escape, and Explorer. The company intends to scale this model by seeking similar dealer partnerships in Washington, North Carolina, New York, Texas, Florida, and Arizona.
The collapse of the EV bet
Founded by TrueCar creator Scott Painter, Autonomy originally bet on the convergence of the subscription economy and the transition to electric vehicles. In 2022, the company made a massive pledge to acquire 23,000 EVs from 17 different automakers. However, that ambition has largely evaporated; the company's current EV fleet consists of just over 500 cars.
This sharp decline follows a period of significant instability in the EV market. Aggressive price cuts by Tesla and a general cooling of consumer demand for electric cars created a volatile environment that forced Painter to personally bail out the company. During this same period, several major automakers also retreated from their own subscription experiments.
Why the pivot matters
By returning to traditional powertrains, Autonomy is acknowledging that consumer demand for flexibility and affordability currently outweighs the push for electrification. The company specifically targets demographics that are often priced out of the traditional credit-based car market, including foreign workers, military families, and students.
Autonomy's model offers a low-barrier entry to mobility. Customers pay a one-time fee—currently $1,000 for EVs—and a monthly subscription payment, with the ability to cancel any time after the first month. "The crux of the interest is easy and quick access to mobility without all the headaches that come with the old school way of buying cars," said Autonomy CEO Fred Weick. Weick added that success requires giving the customer exactly what they want.
What's next
The shift to gas vehicles is a test of whether the "car-as-a-service" model can survive without the novelty of EVs. While the partnership with Galpin Motors provides a blueprint for expansion, the company's long-term viability depends on its ability to secure dealer partners across the six other target states. Observers will be watching to see if the inclusion of popular Ford models can stabilize the company's growth and offset the devaluation that crippled its initial electric fleet.