Zoomcar Releases EV Experience Insight Report: How Self-Drive Rentals Can Accelerate Adoption in Emerging Markets

Rhea-AI Summary

Zoomcar (OTCQB: ZCAR) released the EV Experience Insight Report 2025, arguing self-drive EV rentals can accelerate electric vehicle adoption in emerging markets.

The report cites global EV penetration (38% China, 21% Europe, 9.3% US in 2024), notes EV listings on car-sharing platforms at 12–15%, and that 42% of renters used EVs to "try before they buy." It highlights India’s low passenger EV penetration (~2%), barriers such as limited public and home charging, and pilot-program operational constraints on long-distance routes.

Zoomcar says it sees 2026 as the first scalable opportunity to introduce EVs in its peer-to-peer ecosystem via collaborations with OEMs and charging operators.

Positive

• EV listings on car-sharing platforms at 12–15%
• 42% of renters use EVs to 'try before they buy'
• Company targets 2026 as first scalable EV opportunity

Negative

• India passenger EV penetration at ~2%
• Limited public charging and low home-charging access
• Operational constraints on long-distance and intercity EV routes

Key Figures

China EV penetration 38% Passenger EV adoption in 2024

Europe EV penetration 21% Passenger EV adoption in 2024

US EV penetration 9.3% Passenger EV adoption in 2024

India EV penetration 2% Passenger vehicle EV share in India

EV listings share 12–15% EV rentals as share of listings on leading platforms

‘Try before buy’ usage 42% EV renters using rentals to test before purchase

Contribution profit USD 1.20M Q2 FY25-26, eighth consecutive positive quarter

Convertible notes principal $513,760 12% convertible bridge notes issued June 24, 2025

Market Reality Check

$0.0670 Last Close

Volume Volume 155,576 vs 20-day average 58,038, indicating elevated trading interest before this release. high

Technical Shares at $0.07005 are well below the $1.73 200-day MA and 99.94% below the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

ZCAR gained 4.63% with higher volume, while peers showed mixed moves: DWAY up 172%, AGSS up 37.36%, AITX up 7.14%, and ADHC and TREP down. This points to stock-specific rather than broad sector momentum.

Common Catalyst One key peer, DWAY, also reported expansion news in car-sharing/mobility, suggesting some shared focus on scaling access-based vehicle models.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Nov 25	Product safety launch	Positive	+0.1%	Introduced Trip Protection insurance cover to enhance platform trust and safety.
Nov 14	Earnings results	Positive	-3.3%	Reported positive contribution profit and sharply narrowed net loss for Q2 FY25-26.
Nov 11	Earnings call notice	Positive	-15.5%	Announced upcoming Q2 FY25-26 earnings release and investor webinar details.
Nov 11	Strategy highlight	Positive	-15.5%	Showcased asset-light host flywheel and multi-quarter positive contribution profit track record.
Oct 29	Growth opportunity	Positive	-3.3%	Outlined growth within India’s projected USD 50B shared-mobility opportunity and P2P scaling.

Pattern Detected

Recent positive or growth-focused news has often been followed by negative price reactions, with only one of the last five events seeing a modest gain.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Zoomcar has highlighted a transition toward scalable, asset-light growth in India. On Oct 29, 2025, it framed a USD 50 billion shared-mobility opportunity. Subsequent November releases emphasized its host flywheel, consecutive quarters of positive contribution profit, and narrowing net losses, yet price reactions were mostly negative. The Nov Trip Protection launch saw a flat reaction. Today’s EV experience report extends the access-over-ownership theme into electric vehicles for emerging markets like India.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement positions Zoomcar within the EV transition by emphasizing experience-led adoption in markets where EV penetration remains low, such as India at roughly 2%. It complements earlier disclosures of positive contribution profit and an asset-light peer-to-peer model. Investors may watch how partnerships with OEMs and charging operators materialize, how EV utilization compares with existing fleets, and how the company balances growth initiatives with prior convertible financing obligations.

Key Terms

peer-to-peer financial

"Zoomcar Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: ZCAR), India's largest peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace"

A peer-to-peer arrangement lets people or businesses deal directly with each other instead of going through a middleman, like a bank or broker. For investors it matters because peer-to-peer models can lower costs, change how companies make money, and shift where risks and regulations fall—think of it like a community marketplace where buyers and sellers interact face-to-face rather than through a shop owner.

contractual liability policy financial

"Trip Protection supported by Universal Sompo's Contractual Liability Policy to enhance trust"

An insurance contract that covers losses a company agrees to pay under the terms of a contract with another party, essentially acting as a safety net when the company promises to take on someone else’s costs or risks. For investors, it matters because such a policy reduces the financial impact of contract-related claims, lowering potential unexpected liabilities and making a company’s earnings and balance sheet more predictable—similar to having a warranty on a promised repair.

adjusted EBITDA financial

"adjusted EBITDA loss improved 14% YoY (36% YTD)"

Adjusted EBITDA is a way companies measure how much money they make from their core operations, like running a business, by removing certain costs or income that aren’t part of regular business activities. It helps investors see how well a company is doing without distractions from unusual expenses or gains, making it easier to compare companies or track performance over time.

original-issue discount financial

"Original-issue discount (OID): 10% on each note, resulting in net cash proceeds"

A security issued at a price below its face (maturity) value so the difference acts like extra interest earned as the instrument moves toward maturity. Think of it like buying a $100 gift card for $90 and getting the extra $10 over time — investors earn a higher effective yield but must track that built‑in gain for returns and tax reporting. It matters because it changes an investment's true annual return, cash flow timing, and tax treatment compared with a par‑priced bond.

convertible bridge notes financial

"it privately placed two 12% convertible bridge notes with 1800 Diagonal Lending LLC"

A convertible bridge note is a short-term loan a company takes to 'bridge' its funding until a larger financing round, with the loan automatically converting into shares instead of being repaid in cash. For investors, it matters because it behaves like an IOU that will become ownership at a future price (often at a reduced rate compared with new investors), affecting future share count, potential upside, and dilution risk.

Rule 506 of Regulation D regulatory

"The securities were issued under Rule 506 of Regulation D, avoiding SEC registration"

Rule 506 of Regulation D is a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission exemption that lets companies sell securities privately without registering them with the SEC, similar to a private party invitation rather than a public auction. It matters to investors because it determines how much information they’ll receive, who can buy (accredited vs. non-accredited), whether public advertising is allowed, and how easily the investment can be resold — all factors that affect risk, transparency and liquidity.

gross principal financial

"Gross principal: $402,000 and $111,760, respectively; combined $513,760"

Gross principal is the total amount of money originally lent or owed on a loan, bond or other credit instrument before any deductions such as fees, discounts, repayments or accrued interest adjustments. For investors it shows the raw size of exposure — like seeing the full price tag on an item before coupons — which helps assess credit risk, potential cash flows and how much remains to be repaid.

net cash proceeds financial

"10% on each note, resulting in net cash proceeds of $350,000"

The actual cash a company receives from a financing or sale after subtracting direct transaction costs such as bank and legal fees, commissions, taxes and other closing expenses. Think of it like selling a house and keeping what’s left after paying the realtor and closing costs — it’s the money that truly lands in the company’s account. Investors watch net cash proceeds because they determine how much cash is available for growth, paying down debt, dividends or share buybacks and therefore affect financial strength and valuation.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Global benchmarks show experiential EV rentals drive purchase conversions — a model poised for growth in India.

BENGALURU, India, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Zoomcar Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: ZCAR), India's largest peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace, today released its EV Experience Insight Report 2025, outlining the crucial role that self-drive rentals can play in catalyzing electric vehicle adoption in emerging markets.

In developed markets, EV adoption has hit mainstream penetration — 38% in China, 21% in Europe, and 9.3% in the US in 2024. On leading car-sharing platforms like Turo, EV rentals already represent 12–15% of listings, with 42% of renters using EVs specifically to 'try before they buy.'

Link to read the full report: Zoomcar EV Experience Insight Report

India: A High-Potential, Under-Serviced EV Market

In India, EV penetration for passenger vehicles stands at just ~2%, constrained by limited public charging infrastructure, low home-charging access, and relatively higher upfront costs.

Zoomcar's pilot program with EVs highlighted substantial consumer interest but also revealed operational and infrastructure constraints — particularly for long-distance travel and intercity routes.

Why Experience-Led Models Matter

The report underscores a global trend: exposure builds comfort, significantly improving EV purchase propensity. Renting EVs allows customers to understand range realities, charging speeds, payment ecosystems, and total cost of ownership in a risk-free manner.

Zoomcar's 2026 Outlook

With India expected to ramp up charging infrastructure under upcoming policy frameworks, Zoomcar believes 2026 will mark the first scalable opportunity to introduce EVs within its peer-to-peer ecosystem. The company aims to collaborate with OEMs and charging operators to build a robust experience-led adoption pathway.

"As global EV markets mature, emerging economies will unlock the next 100 million EVs. Self-drive rentals are uniquely positioned to accelerate this shift by giving consumers confidence and familiarity. We look forward to shaping this experience-led transformation in India," said Deepankar Tiwari, CEO - Zoomcar.

About Zoomcar

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Bengaluru, Zoomcar is India's largest peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace. Through its digital-first platform, Zoomcar connects individual vehicle owners (Hosts) with users (Guests), offering flexible access to vehicles for self-drive carsharing. The company's mission is to promote smarter, shared mobility that is both economically empowering and environmentally sustainable.

Forward Looking Statement:

Certain statements contained in this press release are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "plans," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning our expected revenue growth and improved profitability, and our financial forecasts. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by the forward-looking statements. A description of certain of these risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in filings we make with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available at www.sec.gov. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results and events may differ materially from results and events currently expected by us, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in its expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2517562/5182911/Zoomcar_Logo.jpg

 

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SOURCE Zoomcar

FAQ

What did Zoomcar announce in the EV Experience Insight Report 2025 for ZCAR?

Zoomcar released an EV insight report saying self-drive rentals can boost EV adoption and that 2026 may be the first scalable rollout in its peer-to-peer ecosystem.

How common are EV listings on car-sharing platforms according to Zoomcar's report?

The report cites EV listings at approximately 12–15% on leading car-sharing platforms.

What percentage of renters used EVs to 'try before they buy' in the report?

The report states 42% of renters used EVs specifically to test before purchasing.

What are the main barriers to EV adoption in India noted by Zoomcar?

Key barriers listed are limited public charging, low home-charging access, and operational constraints for long-distance travel.

What timeline does Zoomcar give for scaling EVs within its peer-to-peer model (ZCAR)?

Zoomcar says it expects 2026 to mark the first scalable opportunity to introduce EVs in its peer-to-peer marketplace.