“Mobility is green. Proud to be a leader in the industry” – Times

SALERNO. The first thought of Vincenzo Santoro, CEO of Autosantoro, is for his father Gabriele, who is no longer there: “He would be – he says – proud of us …”. Yes, because the patriarch of the Santoro family, with his entrepreneurial vision, was ahead of his time. “My father – he says – a few years after starting the company, 53 years ago, he understood how the ecological change represented the future. So much so that we were among the first installers to replace gasoline cars with LPG». The challenge was won and now another one begins with sales new Hyundai, the first in Italy dedicated entirely to zero-emission vehicles, to convince the residents of Salerno to switch to electricity.
So, is green culture a family tradition?
That’s all. We have always looked to the future and tried to anticipate change. Turning ideas into concrete actions has been the key to our success in more than 50 years of operation. Thanks to the support of my father, my mother and my sister, we have decided to continue in an industry that is constantly changing. And, like half a century ago, we are ready for the challenge, with the first Hyundai headquarters in Italy dedicated entirely to electric cars. We have 15 top-up lines, 8 of which are open to the public and some are very fast, which means top-ups only take a few minutes. An important opportunity for this area, a great investment on our part, to give Salerno the opportunity to be able to unlock this innovation. The road, moreover, was traced by Europe and there was no turning back.
Salerno, therefore, becomes the capital of electric mobility in Italy. Are you proud of this record?
We are proud to be the leaders of this new architecture of the automotive macrocosm and we are proud that all this is happening in Salerno. A city that has always been at the forefront in all sectors and we want it to be in this as well.
Why focus on electricity?
Simple, because it is a necessary path, drawn up by Europe, to achieve carbon neutrality. As Hyundai we are ahead of the times and in Salerno even more so. We are launching a challenge and we are sure to win, to bring the people of Salerno closer to this new mobility. We are ready to clarify any doubts, hold workshops, invite potential customers but also operators to present this new electric technology.
What can he say to convince critics of the election? “green”?
Which they must try. We offer the possibility to test cars, even for just one or two days, or for short-term rental at sample prices. Driving, they will realize the benefits of this new form of mobility and how convenient it is to use an electric vehicle. Because compared to conventional trailers, the savings are very good, enough to cover the rental fee or purchase installment. So much so that electric car users could not go back.
Can we say that the new seller also becomes a laboratory?
That’s all. We are about to close a partnership with the University of Salerno to develop the skills of this new mobility. We already have an in-house research and development division that has enabled us to obtain patents for communication and virtual assistance. And for the University we would like to implement this division in terms of information and through activation.
In practice, sustainability has become the key word…
Exactly. Do you think that the new building also depends on respect for the environment, starting with construction materials and colors, and photovoltaic panels that are enough to guarantee us energy independence. We have focused all our future vision towards green, sustainability and most of all towards location. Being in the middle of these two coasts, we would like the arriving tourist who is used to using electric vehicles to be able, through our organization, to rent a car, which has zero emissions, to the Amalfi Coast or the Cilento Coast. So we will strengthen social communication and we are ready for new initiatives going in this direction.
Do you think the region of Salerno is ready for this green change?
To be honest, it’s still not 100% ready, just like the rest of our peninsula. So we want to signal the turn, start the green engines and accelerate this change.(gds)
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