A Buenos Aires-based mobility startup has closed an $8 million Series A round to scale a rent-to-own vehicle program that addresses a persistent financing barrier for ride-hailing drivers across Argentina and neighboring markets. Autonomy's Series A funding supports Southern Cone expansion plans that will require the company to grow its fleet nearly sevenfold over the next two and a half years.
The round was backed by Magna Capital, Comafi, Natan VC and repeat investor Murchison Ventures. Autonomy, founded in 2022 by José Trusso, a former Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan banker, provides vehicles to ride-hailing drivers. Morgan banker, and co-founder Leandro Cuccioli, provides new vehicles to drivers working with platforms including Uber, DiDi and Cabify. Trusso previously worked at Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan.
Autonomy secures $8M Series A to scale rent-to-own fleet across Southern Cone
Autonomy currently operates more than 1,500 vehicles, a substantial increase from the ten cars and five employees it had when the model launched in 2023. With the new capital, the company plans to reach 10,000 vehicles across the Southern Cone by December 2027.
The startup bundles vehicle leasing with insurance, maintenance and permits in a single monthly payment. Drivers can choose to purchase the vehicle outright after 36 or 48 months. Rather than relying on conventional credit scores, Autonomy evaluates prospective drivers based on their earnings history on ride-hailing platforms.
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Before the latest Series A, Autonomy's cumulative funding, combining equity and debt, had reached approximately $10 million. In 2025, the company secured a US$1.5 million tranche from investors including Gabriel Martino, former CEO of HSBC Argentina. The startup is also part of Endeavor Argentina's ScaleUp program.
How alternative vehicle financing reshapes gig worker access in Argentina and the region
Autonomy's model responds to a structural mismatch in Argentina's ride-hailing market. According to the company, demand for ride-hailing services in Argentina is growing by approximately 30 percent annually, while driver supply has not kept pace. Traditional banks frequently reject auto loan applications from gig workers because they lack fixed payroll income, guarantors or the savings required for a down payment.
This financing gap has workforce implications for companies relying on gig labor. Autonomy reports receiving around 3,000 inquiries from prospective drivers every month but currently has the capacity to serve only half of them. The gap between demand and supply suggests that vehicle access, rather than driver interest, is a binding constraint on ride-hailing platform growth in the region.
For employers and platforms operating in markets with growing demand for drivers across Argentina, alternative financing models that use platform-generated data as a proxy for creditworthiness may alleviate supply bottlenecks. The approach reflects a broader pattern in emerging markets such as Brazil and Mexico, where mobility and fintech businesses are using gig-platform data as an alternative indicator of creditworthiness for workers who have limited access to traditional financial services.
The planned fleet expansion positions Autonomy to grow beyond its current operations and establish a presence across the Southern Cone. Expansion targets in Chile and Uruguay are among the company's stated priorities. The company is also considering electric and CNG vehicles as part of its fleet strategy.
GENTY's growing demand for drivers across Argentina guide offers additional context for employers planning their next hires. GENTY's expansion targets in Chile guide offers additional context for employers planning their next hires.
Fleet expansion milestones and capital requirements through 2027
Reaching 10,000 vehicles from a current fleet of more than 1,500 will require significant ongoing capital. Vehicle purchases, maintenance and insurance make the model more capital-intensive than traditional asset-light fintech businesses. As a result, additional debt financing or follow-on equity rounds could be required to reach the company's stated fleet target.
Autonomy's underwriting model also faces the challenge of managing fluctuations in drivers' income over repayment periods of 36 to 48 months. Changes in earnings, as well as shifts in the value of the Argentine peso, could affect repayment performance as the fleet grows.
The company's ability to expand while maintaining its underwriting standards will become increasingly important as it seeks to accelerate growth. The gap between the approximately 3,000 monthly inquiries Autonomy receives and the number of drivers it can currently serve highlights the scale of demand for its model.
For international investors, the company sits at the intersection of embedded fintech and the formalization of gig work. Its model also reflects continued interest in asset-backed lending approaches in emerging markets, particularly those that use behavioral or platform data instead of traditional credit bureau information.
By increasing the number of drivers able to obtain vehicles through alternative financing, Autonomy's model is aimed at supporting the growth of the ride-hailing ecosystem. For workforce planners and platform operators, the expansion offers a case study in how capital deployment can address supply-side constraints in gig labor markets where traditional financial infrastructure excludes a significant portion of potential workers.