Author: Anne del Pozo
3-minute read
Interview with Pierre Brigadeau, CEO of the Union des Assisteurs
Roadside assistance, a key activity of Res@Car
Roadside assistance accounts for approximately 60% of the activity on the Res@Car platform, which is used by the main players in assistance (Inter Mutuelles Assistance, Allianz Partners, Europ Assistance, AXA Assistance, etc.) and long-term vehicle leasing (Arval, Athlon, Ayvens, etc.). This is an activity that is constantly evolving.
According to the Union des Assisteurs, which brings together the nine main roadside assistance providers in France (www.uniondesassisteurs.fr), the number of roadside assistance cases reached 8.13 million in 2024, a 4% increase compared to 2023.
« This growth is driven by several factors. Whenever France experiences a heatwave, the volume of roadside assistance cases increases significantly. For example, in June 2025, which was a hot month compared to a mild or cool June 2024, we observed a 15% increase in breakdown and towing missions! Additionally, with an average age of 11.2 years, the vehicle fleet continues to age, and the French have deferred or reduced some routine maintenance expenses. The older and more vulnerable vehicles are also less well-maintained, leading to more breakdowns.
Moreover, the fleet of newer vehicles introduced in recent years is generally heavier due to the integration of additional technologies and enhanced safety standards—Editor’s note—and most cars no longer come equipped with a spare tire (to reduce overall weight). As a result, assistance is now much more frequently requested for simple flat tires, especially on hybrid or electric vehicles ».
Pierre Brigadeau
CEO of Union des Assisteurs
Changing Nature of Assistance Situations
The Union des Assisteurs also notes that the types of breakdowns are evolving. With the rise of electric vehicles (1.3 million by the end of 2024), certain issues—such as clutch, carburetion, injection, or exhaust problems—are disappearing.
However, technological breakdowns are more common in electric vehicles, with new situations arising, such as charging problems.
Additionally, labor shortages in garages and delays in spare parts supply are straining the automotive ecosystem, increasing repair times, vehicle downtime, and case resolution delays.
Assistance providers rely on Res@Car to ensure driver and passenger mobility
« Roadside assistance provides clearly defined services as outlined in contracts distributed by insurers or rental companies (long-term or short-term) », continues Pierre Brigadeau.
The main assistance guarantees are now well-known to the French, who do not hesitate to use them: on-site repairs (45% of requests), towing to the nearest garage, as well as driver and passenger assistance services.
« Mobility services for returning home or continuing a journey remain highly utilized. For these services, assistance providers rely heavily on short-term rental vehicles and the Res@Car platform, which are absolutely essential, especially during peak seasons », adds Pierre Brigadeau.
Roadside assistance also includes accommodation services. Furthermore, abroad, assistance coverage is often extended, and formalities are frequently handled.
Roadside assistance continues to cover a wider range of situations, including flat tires, lost or stolen keys, and fuel errors.
Roadside assistance expected to continue growing
These services are likely to keep evolving in the coming years, in line with the expected increase in assistance requests.
« It is probable that we will exceed 10 million roadside assistance interventions by 2029 or 2030, due to climate change (more heatwaves and extreme cold periods), the aging of the vehicle fleet, and its expansion. The electrification of the automotive fleet is also expected to generate new assistance demands. While it remains unclear how electric vehicles over 10 years old will perform in terms of breakdown frequency or nature, we are already seeing trends such as more frequent flat tires (linked to vehicle weight). Over time, charging difficulties will naturally replace the fuel errors we see today », concludes Pierre Brigadeau, CEO of Union des Assisteurs