Crédit Agricole Auto Bank celebrates 100 years in auto finance

Crédit Agricole (CA) Auto Bank is marking a century of innovation and leadership in automotive finance with its sights set firmly on the future. As the Group celebrates 100 years since its founding in 1925, it is driving forward with an ambitious strategy focused on sustainability, digital transformation, and inclusive mobility solutions across Europe and beyond.

Founded in Turin as SAVA (Società Anonima Vendita Automobili – Automobile Sales plc) to support the purchase of Fiat vehicles, the company has evolved through major milestones – from Fiat Auto Financial Services to FGA Capital and FCA Bank – culminating in its full acquisition by Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility in 2023. Rebranded as CA Auto Bank, it now stands as a pan-European financial powerhouse, with operations in 19 countries and over 2,650 employees.

In 2024, the Group, comprising CA Auto Bank and its mobility arm Drivalia, achieved €30 billion in managed loans and leases, financed €11.3 billion worth of vehicles, and reported €390 million in operating income. It now serves 1.4 million customers, and is actively aligning its growth with the future of electric and hybrid mobility.

“Celebrating 100 years of CA Auto Bank is not just about paying tribute to our history, but about reaffirming our willingness to continue to innovate, with the same enthusiasm as our predecessors, who knew how to transform every change into an opportunity.”

“In a century, we have gone from financing the first cars to leading the revolution of sustainable, digital and accessible mobility. This milestone represents the beginning of a new chapter: we want to continue to be the mobility bank for a better planet. And we will do it together with all the colleagues of the Group, whose everyday passion, expertise and vision make this journey possible.”

Already, 42.5% of all new vehicle financings and rentals by the Group in 2024 involved battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), a figure well above the European market average. The company’s Sustainability Plan outlines even more ambitious targets for 2026: 55% of new financings will go to zero- or low-emission vehicles, including 35% to BEVs alone. Drivalia’s fleet will see electrification exceed one-third, supported by a proprietary charging network of 2,500 stations.

The Group’s transformation is not only environmental, but also digital. In 2024, 90% of contracts were completed fully online, thanks to a customer-first digital platform. The goal is to achieve 100% digital penetration in the near future.

Crédit Agricole Auto Bank also expanded its reach through more than 60 strategic partnerships with major global players, including BYD, Chery, MG, and Tesla. Its financial and mobility services now extend well beyond cars, supporting two-wheelers, commercial vehicles, boats, and more, demonstrating its open, cross-sector vision of mobility.

Drivalia, the Group’s rental and subscription division, has been pivotal in championing “usership” over ownership, offering flexible solutions under the mantra: “Rent. Lease. Subscribe. Share.” It positions itself as the only European mobility provider able to meet needs “from one minute to a lifetime.”

“To become the European leader in sustainable mobility, especially electric mobility, by offering a wide range of innovative solutions in all the countries in which we operate.”