Enhancing Car Subscriptions with Car Sharing Tech

Chile’s roads are bustling with over 5 million cars—doubling in just over a decade. But with this growth comes a surge in traffic, environmental challenges, and vehicle theft—with a staggering 94,000 incidents reported in 2023 alone.

Enter Wift, a Chilean car subscription startup that’s not just reacting to these issues but transforming the market. By leveraging car sharing technologies like vehicle immobilization and real-time tracking, Wift has redefined what secured car subscription service can be. The result? A game-changing approach to mobility that’s as secure as it is convenient.

This is the story of how Wift used car sharing tools to take car subscription security to another level—and how it’s scaling its success across Latin America.

Bridging Security, Convenience, and Ownership

For Wift, car subscription security isn’t just a feature; it’s a promise. At the heart of this promise is remote vehicle immobilization, a tool borrowed from car sharing but reimagined for subscription services.

By leveraging INVERS’s CloudBoxx technology, Wift offers customers features that go far beyond locking and unlocking. Customers can remotely lock their cars and disable the engine through the Wift app, adding a layer of control and security that’s unheard of in Chile’s car market.

Carlos Oliveira, Wift’s co-founder and CTO, shares a personal story: “I love going for runs but hate carrying keys. With our app, I can lock the car, activate immobilization, and leave my keys inside. Knowing my car is secure while I’m away gives me unmatched peace of mind. No other service in Chile offers this.”

As the CloudBoxx interrupts the circuit to the key’s antenna, even if the key is left inside the car, the vehicle cannot be started unless the immobilizer is deactivated through the app. Immobilization is treated as a separate feature from locking/unlocking on the Wift app, giving users have the flexibility to lock or unlock doors without affecting the immobilizer, allowing for greater control.

Revolutionizing Stolen Vehicle Recovery

Wift’s car subscription security model isn’t just about convenience—it’s a powerful theft deterrent. With vehicle immobilization, even sophisticated theft techniques like key spoofing become ineffective. Some car thieves use electronic devices to mimic car keys, enabling unauthorized access to vehicles. With the CloudBoxx’s circuit interruption, these spoofing devices are rendered useless, providing an extra layer of security.

The combination of immobilization and real-time tracking has also allowed Wift to set an industry benchmark with its 95% recovery rate for stolen vehicles. Carlos recounts a pivotal success story:

A vehicle was stolen in Santiago, but with telematics tracking, we located and recovered it within hours—even though it was 100 kilometers away. Knowing we can safeguard our assets while reinforcing customer trust is incredibly rewarding.

Beyond theft recovery, Wift’s immobilization tool also helps manage financial risks. If a subscriber falls behind on payments, Wift can remotely block the vehicle and track its location—ensuring business operations run smoothly without compromising transparency.

Data-Driven Innovation: A Foundation for Growth

Telematics data underpins Wift’s car subscription security strategy and operation, enabling smarter decision-making and personalized customer experiences. Key benefits include:

• Proactive maintenance: Schedule vehicle servicing ahead of time, to reduce downtime and secure bulk discounts with partner auto shops.
• Customer value additions: Offer partnerships with local businesses, such as discounts at gas stations or restaurants, based on location data.
• Incident recovery: Use real-time tracking and immobilization for swift responses to vehicle theft or misuse.

Carlos is particularly excited about Driving Analysis: ” Chilean insurers are not yet equipped to integrate driving analysis systems into their pricing and policies for car subscription providers, but we’re paving the way for this next phase of innovation.”

Expanding Across Latin America

In just two and a half years, Wift grew from 10 vehicles to over 500, establishing itself as a leader in Chile’s car subscription market. Now, it’s gearing up to expand into Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil.

With INVERS’s scalable, vehicle-agnostic technology, Wift is ready to adapt to local needs and regulations, ensuring its car subscription security model remains effective across different markets.

Car Subscriptions, But Smarter and More Secure

By reimagining standard car sharing features like immobilization and real-time tracking, Wift has built a subscription model that prioritizes security, convenience, and operational efficiency. As Wift leads the charge in transforming car subscriptions across Latin America, its success proves one thing: innovation and customer trust drive sustainable growth in mobility.

Looking for scalable solutions to stay ahead of the curve? Reach out to us today or check out other success stories on our website.