Carjoy first with car service on wheels

Service lights are flashing, tires need changing and the AC needs servicing, but you don't have to take your car to the shop. Does that sound like a dream? If so, it has just come true. In April, the startup Carjoy launched Sweden's first service with mobile vehicle technicians who go out to the customer and service the car on site. Just a few weeks later, the schedule was fully booked and the young company already had to step up a gear.

- "We have received bookings worth SEK 100,000 in four weeks, which is fantastic considering that we are a completely new player," says Carjoy's founder Simon Ekstrand.

The development from idea to reality has proceeded at a breathtaking pace. Simon has his childhood friend and IT technician Jonas Aronsson, who is responsible for the digital solutions, along for the ride. In November 2021, Carjoy won second place in the Innovatum Science Park Startup Challenge business idea competition, and at the turn of the year they became part of the incubator.

- It has been a great help to have a business coach as a sounding board. I have started companies before, but being in this phase and keeping this pace is new to me. I need tips and advice so I don't risk running off the road," says Simon.

In early April, Carjoy's service was launched via price comparison giant Autobutler and in just a few weeks, around 800 quotes were sent out, worth a total of SEK 2.4 million. The bookings poured in and Carjoy's vehicle technicians had to shuttle between customers. The service is currently available to customers in Gothenburg, Trollhättan, Uddevalla and Vänersborg and the surrounding area, but the aim is to expand rapidly.

- "We're already experiencing growth problems," says Simon. "We are searching high and low for more vehicle technicians, but it requires qualities beyond mechanical knowledge. We place a high value on our technicians being customer-oriented and socially outgoing. They are the face of Carjoy.

Cooperation with renowned actors

Carjoy was noticed early on by well-established players in the industry, which led to a successful snowball effect. The market-leading diagnostics supplier from Trollhättan - Autocom - provides Carjoy with the necessary technology to service newer cars. Agreements have also been established with spare parts supplier Autoexperten, as well as Würth, which supplies tools and workshop fittings.

- We are trying to create a small ecosystem with companies that have already established good partnerships, and we have had many meetings booked because others think what we are doing is good.

Want to reduce environmental impact

In the long term, Carjoy will also be able to offer circular alternatives to its customers to reduce consumption and environmental impact. In collaboration with dismantling companies, they are working on a technical solution to automatically match used spare parts with customers' cars.

- Today, workshops often offer used parts when it comes to more expensive parts, such as an engine or gearbox, but we also want to make use of wear parts, such as brake discs and AC compressors.

Transforming the engineering industry

The plan is to move Carjoy's services to a dedicated mobile application soon. The app will allow customers to register their vehicles, make bookings and choose affordable options with used spare parts.

- We also want to offer service contracts, which work like a subscription, with customers paying a lower monthly amount and avoiding sudden large expenses.

The service with mobile service technicians is already established abroad and is used by Tesla, for example. Carjoy is following an international trend, but without being tied to a specific car brand - an all-car workshop on wheels - which Simon predicts may soon become the new normal.

- We are changing an industry, albeit on a small scale now, but in the long term this may be how it is done when you need to service and repair your car.

Published: June 2022