Leo Carshare Turns One: Here’s What We’ve Learned So Far 

Pour lire cet article en français, cliquez ici 

One year in and what a year it’s been.

Launching a carsharing service in a city like Montreal is never just about putting cars on the streets. It’s about navigating complexity, adapting quickly, and continuously learning from the operations, the users, and the unexpected. For Leo Carshare, this first year has been both rewarding and intense.

Here are some of the most important lessons learned, challenges faced and successes achieved over the last 365 days. 

Leo Carshare launched in Montreal on May 12th, 2025

Year One’s Biggest Challenges…And Solutions!

1) Parking in Montreal (IYKYK!) 

Montreal’s parking ecosystem is uniquely complex due to strict rules and unclear schedules around seasonal street cleaning (between spring and fall), and snow removal during the winter months. 

In most cases, users try to park responsibly and on the correct side of the road, but even experienced drivers find themselves confused and facing fines. To help with this, Leo introduced more in-app guidance, such as red and blue snowflake indicators used when it snows. These symbols signaled  which cars need snow brushed off before they could be driven (blue snowflakes) and which cars are parked on streets that will be affected by snow removal (red snowflakes). SMS and push notifications were also deployed to guide users prior to snow removal operations. 

With spring street cleaning season returning once again, Leo decided it couldn’t tackle parking confusion alone if it wanted to solve the issue once and for all.

Snowflakes in the Leo App indicate which cars need to be cleared of snow (blue) and which need to be moved (red)

The ParkUsher’s Integration

In April, Leo introduced a new game changing feature in partnership with ParkUsher, an app which provide real-time parking validation that helps users avoid tickets by checking restrictions before ending a trip. 

The integration allows drivers to verify directly in the Leo app to see if their parking is valid right now, and in the hours to come. This partnership helps reduce uncertainty, minimize parking fines, and create a smoother experience for customers. Most importantly, it reinforces what carsharing should be: convenient and frictionless. 

Real-time parking validation, directly in the Leo app, powered by ParkUsher.

 2) The unusual thefts we did not see coming! 

Keeping assets secure is a challenge for any carsharing operator and the Leo vehicles were susceptible to vehicle theft, particularly catalytic converters and airbags.

In order to mitigate these thefts, we installed protections to keep these two valuable parts safe. For the catalytic converters, the team equipped vehicles with catalytic converter anti-theft shields. For the airbags, subtle vehicle modifications were introduced to reinforce vulnerable access points. 

Before launching, we never imagined that catalytic converter and airbag theft would become major operational challenges. It was a strong reminder that while you can’t anticipate every obstacle, success depends on staying agile and adapting quickly to the unexpected.

A Catalytic Converter Anti-Theft Shield Aluminium Protection Cover help keeps the fleet safe from theft

The Partnerships That Made Leo Possible

Building a carsharing service is never a solo effort and Leo’s collaboration with partners has been key to launching and scaling efficiently. 

Leo’s principle partner, the dealership group MHT Group, has been paramount to the carsharing service’s success. The partnership goes beyond simply supplying vehicles, MHT Group plays a critical role by bringing expertise along with the ability to structure both procurement and resale.This allows Leo to keep a high-quality, reliable fleet on the road while focusing on delivering a seamless digital experience to users. This partnership also highlights how traditional automotive players are evolving into mobility providers. 

Leo’s partner MHT Group has played a critical role in the launch and success of the carsharing service 

Leo also partnered with Transit, a widely used mobility app that brings together transport options like bus, metro, BIXI bikes, and now carsharing into one platform. Through this integration, Montrealers can locate and access Leo vehicles directly within the Transit app, making it easier to plan trips without a personal car. In addition, Transit Royale subscribers benefit from a 10% discount when using Leo, creating a simple incentive to adopt shared mobility while positioning Leo as part of a more connected, everyday mobility ecosystem.

Leo’s carsharing services are now visible in Transit, allowing users to better plan their journeys without a personal car.

Giving People What They Want

Finally, every city is different, which is why it’s essential to consider local market specificities when offering carsharing services. With this in mind, Leo developed some new nifty features that are keeping Montrealers particularly happy. 

Two highlights include:  

• The ability to subscribe to yearly insurance packages with zero deductible(!), removing stress around vehicle damage
• Flexible mobility plans which allow users to benefit from specific pricing based on their usage

What’s in Store For Year Two?

After a year of learning, iterating, and stabilizing operations, Leo is now focusing on what comes next. 

Two major developments that stand out are:

1. The Price Simulator

A smarter way to plan, with the upcoming price simulator, users will be able to:

• Estimate trip costs
• Choose the best plan for their usage
• Better understand the value of carsharing vs ownership

By improving pricing transparency, the simulator enhances the user experience while also encouraging more pre-reservations. This helps customers plan ahead and contributes to better fleet utilization across the service.

2. The Official Launch of B2B Carsharing

The second major focus for the year ahead is B2B carsharing as Leo is expanding beyond its B2C offering to provide mobility solutions for businesses, fleet operators, and corporate mobility needs.

This shift reflects growing demand for cost-efficient and flexible corporate fleet alternatives. 

Conclusion

Leo Autopartage’s journey so far reflects what it truly takes to build and scale a carsharing service. From navigating parking constraints to addressing fleet security and launching new features, each challenge has helped us refine our approach and strengthen the service as we grow. 

None of this would have been possible without the dedication and collaborative spirit of the team behind Leo, a group that has consistently turned challenges into solutions and ambition into execution. And while this first year set the foundation, the road ahead is where things get even more exciting.

Season 1: From Zero to Launch: Montreal Carsharing

Want an exclusive look at what it takes to build and scale a successful carsharing operation? Check out Season One of our behind-the-scenes series “From Zero to Launch: Montreal Carsharing” You can binge all 10 episodes here!

Check out Season One of our behind-the-scenes series “From Zero to Launch: Montreal Carsharing: 

Episode 1: The one where they figure out how to launch a carsharing service in just 8 months

Episode 2: The one where they put the “car” in “carsharing”

Episode 3: The one where they build their dream team

Episode 4: The one where they take on risk

Episode 5: The one where they finally say the name of the company

Episode 6: The one where they build the buzz

Episode 7: The one where they paint the town purple

Episode 8: The one where they look back at the journey so far

Episode 9: The one where they learned to get “street smart” 

Episode 10: The one where they find out that when it snows, IT SNOWS!