Parisians and even people from Bordeaux have already seen these antique 2CVs on the streets, 4 Wheels under an Umbrella has opened a new chapter in its history. After 18 years of existenceThe events agency has been taken over by two passionate engineers, Emmanuel Mounier and Romain Jouhaud, respectively Chairman and Managing Director. After the capital, 4 Roues sous un Parapluie had set up in Bordeaux in 2018, the agency is offering companies, through its discovery rallies visit iconic sites such as Saint-Emilion and Blaye, the surrounding wine-growing areas (Médoc, Graves, Entre Deux Mers, etc.), the Bay of Arcachon and the Dordogne. " La gastronomy and the wine are obviously the common thread of our tours thanks to partnerships with châteaux offering tours and tastings" explains Romain Jouhaud. To achieve this, the two young entrepreneurs have a fleet of 46 vintage vehiclesThese are mainly 2CVs, but also a DS. These are split between the two towns depending on the operation, or even moved by lorry for events requiring more than twenty 2CVs. " This makes us able to go anywhere in FranceWe can also provide vehicles on request, as was recently the case in Grenoble. With the possibility of using the vehicles of private owners if necessary." he adds. However, this is a rare occurrence, with an average of around ten vehicles mobilised per event.
A gradual recovery in business
If 4 Wheels Under an Umbrella operated approximately 250 events per year before Covid, i.e. almost one every working day, the pandemic has had a considerable impact on the agency. " Business remains lower 50% compared with 2019, but we are hoping for a gradual recovery as companies look for new business opportunities. original proposals for get together and re-motivate their teamsand even more so in the green. The main difficulty remains visibility, with bookings made with no advance warning and less than a month to go before the operation." says Romain Jouhaud. Optimistically, he is already planning new sites in the Côte d'Azur (Marseille, Nice...), in Champagne (Reims, Epernay) or in Rhône-Alpes (Lyon, Annecy, Grenoble, etc.). Over time, the agency hopes to generate additional business from partnerships with other events agencies and the next major sporting events, the Rugby XV World Cup in 2023 and the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024. While the range currently relies on its former Citroën vehicles, 4 Roues sous un parapluie is also thinking about building up its own brand. a small fleet of 4LsAnother automotive icon, this time Renault. " This would make it possible to create challengesOne part of the group will complete the rally in a 2CV, the other in a 4L. The participants immediately embraced these vintage vehicles, which provided a real leap into the past and a unique driving experience" .
Negotiating the environmental shift
As part of its roadmap, 4 Wheels Under an Umbrella has also embarked on an environmental shift. After an initial 2CV converted to electric power in 2015 - losing its characteristic engine noise in the process - the operator is now betting on thehydrogen. " Range is much better than with electric cars, justifies the DG. Based on current R&D research, we hope to be able to develop a primary transformation by 2025. The rest of the fleet will follow if the test is successful. The ambition is to show that our tourism activities can be sustainable" . This is necessary to meet the environmental concerns of companies and their employees. But also to be able to continue driving in historic town centres where Low Emission Zones (LEZ) will be introduced in the future.
