The client
UFODRIVE is the world’s first all-digital, all-electric car rental service and has the highest customer ratings in the industry. It delivers a revolutionary, all-digital car rental experience through an app that gives access to and journey management of their zero-emission electric cars.
The other side to the business is their B2B e-mobility SaaS platform for supporting fleets to transition to electric or to help existing electric fleets with optimised operations, lower energy costs, charging connectivity and advanced analytics.
Aidan McClean is CEO and co-founder of the business, who started UFODRIVE and cleantech investing after a successful career in banking. He then wrote a bestselling book, ‘ELECTRIC REVOLUTION’ after becoming more passionate about EVs and sustainability.
The goals
UFODRIVE CMO Jarmila Yu hired Spreckley for three reasons: Firstly, to gain media attention to the business’s success – with rapid expansion to over 20 sites in Europe and, more recently, growth across the US. Secondly, to promote their B2B fleet management software and key business messaging that better software is essential to deliver the electric revolution. Thirdly, to strengthen Aidan McClean’s status as a thought leader in sustainability, energy and transport and a key person of influence in the green mobility arena.
Furthermore, Spreckley had to manage European and American agencies as the lead PR hub for UFODRIVE”s physical expansion into new markets.
Working closely in partnership with the UFODRIVE marketing team, Spreckley were thrilled to be part of a dynamic, successful, and most importantly, environmentally-friendly business. However, promoting complex messaging around rapidly evolving green technology in such a busy media and policy landscape without ‘adding to the noise’ was not without its challenges.
The solution
Spreckley was able to constantly secure both interesting and influential coverage of Aidan, the importance of good software for fleet managers going electric, and UFODRIVE’s many business successes and achieved milestones.
The PR team of passionate environmentalists had to stay on top of the policy and new agendas of EVs and the sustainability, and continuously add relevant, interesting, and well-researched content into the mix to keep journalists’ attention on Aidan and UFODRIVE.
The resulting coverage, ranging from interviews with Aidan on international TV news to regular pieces about UFODRIVE’s expansion throughout Europe and the States, was constant and meaningful; with over 120 pieces in just eight months. Some key examples are:
The achievements
“Spreckley has been the ideal PR agency for us at UFODRIVE – managing to keep up with our rapid growth, a consistently expanding brief (including new market launches), and continuous new hires. Thanks to their collaborative approach to thought leadership and content, as well as relentless media relations work, there has been consistently impressive coverage; in the UK and abroad, in a range of sectors, and in leading business-to-business and consumer-facing publications.
“This has had a positive impact on our business. We are now getting attention in the market from journalists, analysts, events and awards organisers, industry partners, and clients.
“Spreckley has also provided sound management of a global network of specialist PR agencies and consultants, which has allowed us to effectively multiply efforts across markets and maintain a high level of results in a cost-effective way; all while minimising our workload.” – Aidan McClean, CEO and co-founder of UFODRIVE.