It follows Carbar buying the Carly car subscription operation in May. HelloCars was bought from its parent company Loopit. Loopit provides a car subscription software platform and rental services for dealerships, OEMs and fleet providers.

Carbar said the acquisition aimed to strengthen its position as one of Australia’s fastest growing car subscription providers.

Carbar CEO Des Hang

Carbar said it will retain the HelloCars brand as part of the transaction, while Loopit is concentrating on scaling its software platform. Loopit will support Carbar by integrating its technology more broadly into the group’s operations.

The deal also builds Carbar’s ‘house of brands’ strategy. 

Carly said it will continue to serve the mid-term subscription market while the HelloCars brand will focus on “value-orientated, no-frills” subscription offerings.

“The Carbar brand will serve as the group’s premium offering, serving customers who prefer a long-term subscription and the benefits it brings, over vehicle ownership,” it said.

Carbar CEO Des Hang said: “This deal reinforces our position as a leading car subscription platform in Australia. 

“By expanding our brand portfolio and capabilities, we’re building a more seamless and scalable experience that better serves a broad spectrum of Australian drivers’ different needs.

“Following global trends, we expect further consolidation in the car subscription space over the next year. 

“Carbar is well-positioned to lead this shift with a clear ‘house of brands’ strategy that spans everything from accessible, everyday offerings like HelloCars to our flagship Carbar service for those seeking a premium, yet fully flexible alternative to vehicle ownership.”

Loopit director Paul Higgins said: “HelloCars was an important part of proving the car subscription model in Australia, and we’re proud to see the brand continue its journey under Carbar.

Paul Higgins

“At Loopit, we’re more committed than ever to powering the next wave of growth in subscription and rental through our software. We look forward to working alongside Carbar and its portfolio of brands as the industry scales this model with confidence.”

Carbar was founded in 2016 as Australia’s first car subscription service allowing flexible access to vehicles without requiring ownership. It also offers solutions in vehicle sales and fleet services.

Loopit is a leading software platform for car subscription and rental for dealerships, OEMs and fleet providers.

Originally developed out of the HelloCars subscription service, Loopit was purpose-built to help mobility providers launch, manage and scale flexible vehicle services. 

It now powers recurring mobility solutions in international markets with tools for customer acquisition, billing, fleet management and analytics.

By Neil Dowling