In its Report on Current and Emerging Circular Business Models in EU Industries, FurnSERVICE highlights the central role of servitization in transforming manufacturing companies. Firms are increasingly shifting from simply selling products to offering integrated product–service systems that deliver value throughout the entire lifecycle of the product. But how does this principle translate across different manufacturing sectors?

One of the sectors undergoing the most significant transformation is automotive. Car‑sharing schemes, subscription services, and flexible leasing are the most visible expressions of this shift. These models allow customers to access mobility when needed, while companies retain ownership of the vehicle. This approach creates strong incentives for manufacturers and operators to design vehicles that are more durable, easier to repair, and better suited for refurbishment and reuse.

The business cases presented in the report show how different companies are applying servitization through diverse and innovative strategies.

Michelin, for example, has developed Michelin Connected Fleet, a sophisticated digital platform that monitors vehicles in real time, analyzes fleet performance, supports electrification planning, and enables predictive maintenance.

Arval, part of the BNP Paribas Group, has gone beyond traditional leasing by integrating a complete portfolio of mobility services—maintenance, repairs, insurance, charging infrastructure, and fleet analytics. By keeping vehicles within Arval’s operational ecosystem throughout their lifecycle, the company ensures ongoing maintenance, refurbishment, and redistribution across multiple users.

Finally, Lynk & Co, the brand born from the joint venture between Geely and Volvo Cars, has introduced a built‑in peer‑to‑peer car‑sharing system directly integrated into its vehicles and managed via an app. This model makes sharing seamless and turns the car into a flexible mobility resource rather than a static asset.

Across all these cases, one common thread emerges: servitization is becoming the key pathway through which the automotive sector is advancing circularity. The report provides a deeper exploration of these business cases and presents additional cross‑sector insights that can support companies, inside and beyond the furniture sector, in rethinking their value models.