JimDrive

JimDrive positioned itself as a digital-first mobility club, aiming to disrupt the traditional roadside assistance market in Europe. Founded in November 2015 in Stuttgart, Germany, by Timo Weltner, Christoph Mayer, and Sofian Oweideh, the company sought to offer services comparable to established automobile clubs but through a leaner, more cost-effective model. By eliminating physical branches and complex club structures, JimDrive passed on cost savings to its members, who were primarily individual drivers in Germany and Austria.

The company's business model was centered on annual membership subscriptions, offering Europe-wide breakdown and towing assistance. Its revenue was generated directly from these membership fees, which provided customers with access to a network of over 1,900 service vehicles. The service portfolio included breakdown and towing, key services, rental car provisions, and vehicle recovery. A key component of its strategy was a mobile application, which allowed users to request assistance digitally, track the service vehicle's arrival, and access additional features like a digital logbook. This app-based approach was a primary differentiator, intended to modernize the customer experience in the roadside assistance sector.

JimDrive secured multiple rounds of funding from investors including the ProSiebenSat.1 Accelerator, Speedinvest, and Auden AG. These investments were intended to fuel operational expansion and marketing efforts. However, the company faced significant challenges, discovering that scaling its operations required more capital and time than initially anticipated. On June 13, 2019, JimDrive ceased its breakdown assistance services and filed for bankruptcy. Subsequently, Automobilclub von Deutschland (AvD), a traditional competitor, acquired the brand, offering to continue service for existing JimDrive customers under the name "JimDrive powered by AvD".

Keywords: digital roadside assistance, mobility club, insurtech, breakdown service, automotive services, app-based assistance, towing service, vehicle recovery, digital logbook, European auto club, Stuttgart startup, Timo Weltner, Christoph Mayer, ProSiebenSat.1 Accelerator, AvD, automotive technology, mobile car services, subscription auto service, online automobile club, vehicle assistance