LocoMotion
LocoMotion is a Quebec-based non-profit operating locomotion.app, an open-source, peer-to-peer platform for sharing cars, bikes, cargo bikes, and trailers across 20+ volunteer-governed neighborhood communities, with insurance provided through Desjardins.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersMontreal, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What LocoMotion does
LocoMotion is a Quebec-based non-profit (OBNL) that operates a web-based peer-to-peer vehicle-sharing platform spanning more than 20 neighborhood-level communities across Greater Montreal, the Eastern Townships, Mauricie, Montérégie, Bas-Saint-Laurent, and Charlevoix. Founded in 2018 in La Petite-Patrie as a citizen initiative under Solon, the organization became an independent entity in 2024 and is coordinated by a lean core team of approximately 8–9 staff in Montreal supplemented by an estimated 100+ volunteers organized into local committees that govern each community. Its core product, the open-source locomotion.app web platform, enables members to lend and borrow personal cars, electric bikes, cargo bikes, and bike trailers without a mobile app or membership fee, with insurance bundled into every transaction through a partnership with Desjardins Insurance.
The business model is a hybrid of three revenue streams: a transparent percentage transaction/rental fee on each booking, a daily insurance premium included in every rental, and community-startup professional services that help new neighborhoods launch their own nodes. Pricing for vehicles is set democratically by community members at annual general meetings, while bikes and trailers operate on a voluntary-contribution basis. Distribution is fully self-serve via the browser-based platform, with growth driven by word-of-mouth through local committees, community events such as the annual LocoFolies gala, organic social channels, and earned media in Quebec press (La Presse, Le Devoir, Radio-Canada). The platform is published as open-source and has been adopted by France's Coloc'Auto project, while partner ecosystem includes cargo bike manufacturers (Cargone, CycloChrome), sustainability organizations (Équiterre, Coop Carbone), and Quebec municipal and provincial government programs.
LocoMotion serves three core customer segments: urban and suburban residents seeking alternatives to private car ownership (the primary segment), grassroots local volunteer committees that animate each community, and Quebec municipalities and arrondissements seeking sustainable mobility options. The organization won multiple regional awards between 2019 and 2025, including the Prix Économie circulaire (2025), Prix Leadership en mobilité durable (2024), and Jalon Mobilité (2019). Critically, LocoMotion is not a venture-backed or investor-funded entity — it is controlled by a nine-member board of directors representing community, partner, and team interests, and is funded through government grants, member contributions, voluntary donations, and earned transaction/insurance revenue.
LocoMotion firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LocoMotion
- Legal name
- Réseau LocoMotion
- Website
- https://info.locomotion.app
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- LocoMotion is a Quebec-based non-profit operating locomotion.app, an open-source, peer-to-peer platform for sharing cars, bikes, cargo bikes, and trailers across 20+ volunteer-governed neighborhood communities, with insurance provided through Desjardins.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LocoMotion industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Shared Mobility Services
- NAICS
- Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (48599)
- SIC
- Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Volunteer Driver & Community Transportation Programs (TLAFAKAH)
Keywords
Where LocoMotion is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montreal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
LocoMotion business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Transaction / rental fee commission: LocoMotion charges a transparent percentage fee on each vehicle rental transaction processed through the platform. This is the primary revenue stream, enabling the non-profit to sustain its operations while keeping pricing collectively set by the community.
- Daily insurance premium: A daily insurance premium is added to each rental transaction, providing liability and damage coverage for shared vehicles. This is bundled into the rental cost and is a consistent revenue contributor.
- Community startup support services: LocoMotion supports new communities in launching their local vehicle-sharing service, providing tools, methodology, and organizational know-how. Revenue from this stream helps fund the central team's coordination work.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Small electric vehicle (e.g., small EV, compact car) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Larger / gas-powered vehicle |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Cargo bikes and trailers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels9 records
LocoMotion product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LocoMotion operates a peer-to-peer vehicle sharing network across Quebec communities, enabling neighbours to lend and borrow cars, electric bikes, cargo bikes, regular bikes, and bike trailers through the locomotion.app web platform. Insurance coverage is included via Desjardins and pricing is collectively set by each community's volunteer committee.
Product overview
LocoMotion is a Quebec-based non-profit network for community vehicle sharing, operating as a unified platform with multiple vehicle types. The core offering is the locomotion.app web-based platform enabling peer-to-peer sharing of cars, electric bikes, cargo bikes, and bike trailers within local neighborhoods. The ecosystem includes the Cargo Bike Network pilot project expanding cargo bikes across 8 Montreal communities, and the Vélovolt program (in partnership with Équiterre) providing e-bike trials to organizations. Communities also share handmade LocoMobile trailers and Wike-manufactured bike trailers. All sharing is coordinated through volunteer committees, with insurance provided by Desjardins and pricing determined collectively by community members.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- locomotion.app Platform Web-based peer-to-peer vehicle sharing platform enabling community members to lend and borrow cars, bikes, and trailers. Accessible via browser on computers and mobile devices with no app download required.
- Community Car Sharing (Autopartage)
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces private vehicle ownership and associated costs per household
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use LocoMotion
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
LocoMotion technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
LocoMotion partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ÉquiterrecoreÉquiterre partnered with LocoMotion on the Vélovolt project, a cargo bike sharing initiative in Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. Équiterre's role in promoting sustainable mobility and environmental stewardship aligns with LocoMotion's mission, and this partnership enhances community visibility and trust.
- Municipalities and arrondissements across QuebeccoreLocoMotion partners with municipalities and boroughs across Quebec to deploy community vehicle-sharing services. Municipal partners provide endorsement, in some cases logistical support (e.g., parking access), and help connect LocoMotion with local residents, making them a key go-to-market channel for community adoption.
- Coop CarboneminorCoop Carbone is a cooperative focused on carbon reduction and sustainable mobility initiatives in Quebec. The partnership supports LocoMotion's environmental mission and provides access to a network of sustainability-oriented organizations.
- La Cyclerie (Trois-Rivières)minorLa Cyclerie is a Trois-Rivières-based partner that supports LocoMotion's operations in the Mauricie region, providing local community connections and operational support for vehicle sharing.
- Lespacemaker (workshop space)minorLespacemaker provides workshop space used by LocoMotion community members for maintenance, assembly, and community gatherings.
- Bâtiment 7 (workshop space)minorBâtiment 7 provides workshop space for LocoMotion community members, supporting vehicle maintenance, workshops, and community events.
- Demain VerdunminorDemain Verdun is a local sustainability organization in the Verdun borough that supports LocoMotion's community vehicle-sharing activities in that area.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
LocoMotion competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Communauto: Quebec-based car-sharing cooperative operating a fleet-based (B2C) car-sharing service across Montreal and other Canadian cities. Most directly comparable commercial/cooperative car-sharing alternative operating in the same Quebec market with overlapping value proposition (alternative to car ownership).
- Modo Cooperative: Vancouver-based non-profit car-sharing cooperative offering station-based vehicles to members as an alternative to ownership. Comparable cooperative governance and member-driven vehicle sharing model; operates in a different Canadian market.
- Getaround: Peer-to-peer car-sharing platform that connects private car owners with renters. Same P2P vehicle rental business model as LocoMotion, but operated as a venture-backed commercial platform with broader geographic reach.
- HOURCAR: Minneapolis–Saint Paul non-profit car-sharing organization offering hourly and daily access to shared vehicles. Comparable mission-driven, non-profit vehicle sharing structure, though operating a fleet-based rather than P2P model.
- Turo: Largest peer-to-peer car rental marketplace globally, allowing private car owners to rent to strangers. Closest scaled analogue to LocoMotion's P2P mechanic, though commercial and longer-trip oriented rather than neighborhood-community oriented.
- Coloc'Auto: France-based peer-to-peer car-sharing cooperative that has explicitly re-used LocoMotion's open-source platform code to launch its own service. Identical technological foundation and similar cooperative/P2P mission, making it the closest international counterpart.
Emerging players
- BIXI Montréal: Montreal's public bike-sharing system offering short-term bike rentals across the city. Overlapping bike-sharing use case within the same Montreal market, but station-based public-transit-style model rather than community-governed P2P.
- Cargone: Quebec-based cargo bike manufacturer (founded by LocoMotion board member Sébastien Jutras) and LocoMotion partner. Adjacent cargo-bike ecosystem participant and supplier to LocoMotion's cargo bike network, with potential product overlap as the cargo-bike category matures.
Others
- Coop Carbone: Quebec cooperative focused on carbon reduction and sustainable mobility initiatives, and an active partner of LocoMotion. Thematically aligned cooperative ecosystem partner working on overlapping decarbonization and mobility mandates.
Broad incumbents
- Zipcar: Largest commercial car-sharing operator in North America, owned by Avis Budget Group. Offers fleet-based hourly car sharing broadly across universities, cities, and businesses — overlapping use case (occasional car access) but with owned-fleet, commercial economics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LocoMotion social profiles
Digital presenceLocoMotion financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LocoMotion leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
LocoMotion funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LocoMotion M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LocoMotion
What does LocoMotion do?
LocoMotion operates a peer-to-peer vehicle sharing network across Quebec communities, enabling neighbours to lend and borrow cars, electric bikes, cargo bikes, regular bikes, and bike trailers through the locomotion.app web platform. Insurance coverage is included via Desjardins and pricing is collectively set by each community's volunteer committee.
Is LocoMotion a public or private company?
LocoMotion is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was LocoMotion founded?
LocoMotion was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is LocoMotion based?
LocoMotion is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does LocoMotion make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Transaction / rental fee commission is the primary driver. The others are daily insurance premium and community startup support services.
Who are LocoMotion's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Communauto, Modo Cooperative, Getaround, HOURCAR, Turo and Coloc'Auto. Emerging players are BIXI Montréal and Cargone. Coop Carbone is listed as an others. Zipcar is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does LocoMotion have an API?
No public API is recorded for LocoMotion.
What industry is LocoMotion in?
LocoMotion's product category is Shared Mobility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFAKAH, Volunteer Driver & Community Transportation Programs. Its NAICS code is 48599 and its SIC code is 4700.