OCN, Finsus Partner to Finance Vehicles for Gig Workers in Mexico

Finsus and OCN have launched a strategic partnership combining popular financial society (SOFIPO) banking services with rent-to-own vehicle leasing for gig economy workers in Mexico. By leveraging alternative transactional data from ride-hailing platforms like Uber and DiDi, the alliance enables drivers to build credit histories, automate savings, and secure vehicle ownership. This integration highlights a growing trend of non-bank financial institutions and mobility firms collaborating to expand financial inclusion and asset accumulation across Latin America's informal and independent labor markets.

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Mobility company OCN and popular financial society (SOFIPO) Finsus announced a strategic alliance to provide ride-hailing and delivery drivers with rent-to-own vehicle financing and digital financial services across Mexico. The partnership combines OCN's vehicle leasing model with Finsus' digital banking platform to establish structured pathways to vehicle ownership and formal credit building.

"We want everyone to become an owner of a vehicle with a purchase option," said Miron Sandoval, CEO, OCN. Sandoval explained that beyond lacking equity, drivers frequently face unexpected operational expenses — including vehicle maintenance, insurance, taxes, and repairs — that strain personal finances. Under the three-year agreement, drivers operate new vehicles with maintenance, insurance, taxes, and spare parts included in the lease contract, retaining the right to acquire the vehicle at the end of the term.

The initiative enables ride-hailing and delivery drivers working on digital platforms like Uber, DiDi, and Lyft to deposit their earnings directly into a Finsus account. Through the digital platform, drivers can automate savings, earn yields of up to 11.5% annually, and build formal credit histories. 

Carlos Marmolejo, CEO of Finsus, noted that tracking income generated across multiple platforms allows the institution to evaluate repayment capacity accurately, even if a driver operates across several applications simultaneously. "The quality of the data we have, combined with the income and savings capacity of the drivers, will allow us to offer them more financial services so they can grow financially and build their assets," Marmolejo said. As drivers establish credit profiles, Finsus plans to extend additional financial products, including housing loans, solar panel financing, credit cards, and auto loans for subsequent vehicle acquisitions.

To support capital accumulation over the lease period, the partnership is also launching "MiCoche," an automated savings tool embedded within the Finsus platform. The feature automatically sets aside a portion of income generated from each completed trip, directing the funds into a dedicated vehicle savings account. This mechanism ensures that participants accumulate the required capital to exercise their purchase option at the conclusion of the three-year lease term.

The companies estimate that drivers migrating to this scheme could increase their net earnings by 15% to 40%. This income expansion stems from operating higher-category vehicle models and eliminating out-of-pocket maintenance overhead. OCN currently operates across 11 cities in Mexico, having placed more than 8,000 vehicles nationwide while delivering between 300 and 450 new units per month. The partnership will launch as a pilot program before expanding to additional cities across the country.

Expanding Capital and EV Deployments

The partnership with Finsus builds on OCN’s broader capital strategy and technological expansion focused on Latin America's underbanked gig workforce. To scale its operations, OCN secured US$86 million in equity and debt financing in Aug. 2024 structured through Mexican firm Hefesto Asesores and US Legal Scale. The funding round — led by Caravela Capital, Collide Capital, and Great North Ventures, with debt financing from i80 Group — enabled OCN to enhance its proprietary underwriting algorithms. 

By analyzing non-traditional transactional data, the platform evaluates risk for millions of independent contractors across Latin America and the United States who remain excluded from traditional commercial banking systems. "When we founded OCN, we envisioned helping thousands of gig workers earn more and improve their lives," Sandoval stated regarding the expansion. "With our new financing, we can continue to improve our technology and operational capacity to reach more gig economy workers."

In addition to credit underwriting, OCN has advanced fleet modernization through large-scale electric vehicle (EV) deployments. In Jan. 2026, OCN partnered with Chinese automaker GAC in a US$50 million investment to deploy 2,000 Aion UT electric vehicles across Mexico. 

Targeted at drivers operating on ride-hailing platforms, the deployment aims to accelerate sustainable urban mobility while significantly reducing fuel and maintenance costs for drivers. Additionally, lower operating expenses directly improves driver retention and monthly net margins, reinforcing the financial feasibility of vehicle acquisition models.