Success story: VIVe Hyundai La Hiruela

In the heart of the Sierra del Rincón, where time seems to stand still and nature sets the pace of life, lies La Hiruela, one of the smallest and most charming municipalities in the Community of Madrid.

Here, as in many rural villages, there was a common challenge: the lack of mobility options to connect residents with essential services.

To find out how this challenge has become an opportunity for innovation and well-being, we spoke with Natalia Santana, administrative officer at the La Hiruela Town Hall and secretary of the Peace Court.

Natalia tells us how electric mobility is improving residents' quality of life and strengthening the link between sustainability and community.

Thanks to the installation of a shared electric vehicle and its corresponding VIVe charging point from Hyundai, the municipality has taken a firm step towards more inclusive, sustainable mobility that is connected to the future.

This is the story of how DealerBest brings mobility to rural villages and proves that innovation also has a rural accent.

What mobility needs or challenges did the municipality have before implementing this service?

Before the VIVe service started in the village, I had access to a public bus route. That route is still running, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. It's very good, but for the needs of older people and, in general, of the village, a few more services were missing.

Regarding mobility, I think it has complemented both the public transport service and the electric mobility service with the car quite well.

What would you highlight about the service in terms of sustainability and environmental commitment?

I think something very important is that this car helps us reduce direct emissions, that is, the emissions we generate when we use a petrol or diesel car.

Also, in terms of noise, this car doesn't generate as much noise as a combustion car.

La Hiruela is within the Biosphere Reserve, and being inside it means there are many animals. In fact, I have come across several animals on the road, especially at night, because they don't hear the car. You drive slowly, but you know you are respecting the environment and the animals' habitat, and that is essential in these areas.

By not using a private car, those of us who have one and decide not to use it also work for environmental sustainability. So, the service is a win-win.

Would you recommend this initiative to other rural municipalities?

Yes, I would recommend it to other rural municipalities, especially those with mobility limitations, because implementing this type of service — as in our case, which complemented a daily bus line — improves the municipality's mobility services and gives people a better quality of life.

We have witnessed how the VIVe service complements the bus service and also a shared taxi we have in the mountains.

With these three options, people who, for one reason or another, need a second car or don't have mobility services can use it and improve their quality of life.

What does living in a small municipality like La Hiruela mean?

Living in La Hiruela means having quality of life, closeness to the natural environment and, from a municipal point of view, facing logistical challenges such as getting to the shops, going to the doctor or running errands.

But it also means developing other skills you don't have in a city, such as close relationships and a sense of community, which we don't have in cities.

How was your experience working with DealerBest throughout the process?

DealerBest was a facilitator, as I mentioned before, and they were also always willing to meet the village's requirements with total professionalism.

They listened to and understood the municipality's needs.

How did you learn about the VIVe Hyundai project? What attracted you to the model?

The project actually started when VIVe contacted the Town Hall, and at that time the mayor decided to go to another village in Guadalajara where the model had already been implemented, and spoke with the people there to see how it had evolved.

As it was another village with similar characteristics to La Hiruela, the potential to improve mobility options was seen as attractive.

Has the perception of mobility in the municipality changed since VIVe was implemented?

It has had a positive impact, because older people see it as a resource to have more autonomy in terms of mobility and, in general, in their lives.

At first, there seemed to be some resistance to change towards sustainable and shared mobility. A shared car in this area was unheard of, but the idea of being able to share a car for everyone's use is now established in the minds of the people living in the village, and it is known to be available and always at hand.

This has changed the way mobility is viewed compared to what was traditionally seen in the village.

What message would you give to other small towns thinking about improving their mobility?

I would encourage other municipalities to consider this type of solution because, in general, they would solve the village's mobility problems, especially in the smallest ones. But I also know that in larger towns, having a shared car available to citizens works quite well. In general, it gives more autonomy to the community, and I believe that considering this type of model in a rural environment increases people's quality of life.

I can give a real example myself, because I arrived in the village with my family about two and a half years ago and we did so without a car. The electric car was a fundamental support to make our arrival smoother. While we were settling in — for about a month until we got a car — we used the electric car and it was our 100% mobility support, in addition to public transport (...)

This is the best option economically because, being electric, it doesn't use petrol and I can go into the centre without paying for parking. Also, I know other people use it too (...). Whenever the car is needed and available, it is used.

Would you like to learn more about the VIVe project or how to include it in your town?

Contact us and discover the solution that is bringing electric mobility to rural areas across Spain.

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