Mateu Català: "My father is retiring and now he is helping me to start with my company"

ManacorMateu Català is a 24-year-old young entrepreneur from Manacor, who a few months ago started MC Crono, a new vehicle rental and sales company with great aspirations for the future. We talk for a while about the rental market and the future of the Majorcan automotive fleet.

How does MC Crono work?

— The company is based on the rental and sale of cars from the brands Fiat, Opel, Ford, Citroën or Peugeot, although I also have vans and a motorhome. The rental service is designed for if you have to leave your car at the mechanic for a week or you need a vehicle during the holidays or if friends or family come and need a car or motorhome for a specific period.

Is there a minimum number of days?

— No, one day, two days or a year, for example. The local client especially appreciates this a lot.

I suppose the rates are progressive

— Yes, I have a price per day, and the longer it is, the cheaper it works out in the long run. Starting from one week there is a 15% discount, then 25%, and after a month it is 50%.

What rental vehicle fleet do you have to start with?

— I established the company last March and I have already been operating all summer. I started by buying a Fiat Panda and now I have 4 cars and a motorhome.

How old are you?

— I am 24. It must be said that I have it in my blood. My father has dedicated his whole life to it, so it has been something I have always seen day by day. I remember being a student and my father asking me to go clean cars in the evenings, or if I could accompany him to Sóller for a vehicle change. I am also used to dealing with the client. Now it is a bit the other way around, he is leaving it and helping me to start the company, which for the moment will not have a workshop as such, but rather we will only dedicate ourselves to rental and sales.

MC Crono, why this name?

— MC are simply the initials of Mateu Català, and crono comes from the previous company which was called Cronomotor and I have shortened the name to make it a bit more my own.

And where will you be?

— In principle at the Ferrocarril promenade, but now we will see where the definitive headquarters will be.

Is it possible to compete with the large rental companies from Manacor?

— Yes, but in a different way. These companies are monsters that go for volume. In contrast, MC Crono is designed to be a car rental that works all year round and on a small scale, taking care of the local client who needs a car for a season and whom a large company will not rent to, because it is more focused on the tourist who arrives. It must be said, however, that I also offer pick-up service at the airport and at home, for example.

There must also be tourists who want this proximity

— That is clear. In fact, every year there are more tourists who have villas or vacation homes in this area of Mallorca, and who are already customers. Word of mouth and being recommended is very important now that I am starting.

Matching prices must also be complicated

— It is not about competing but rather complementing things that they cannot reach. I can dedicate myself more to the long-term sector. They have mileage limits and other conditions. MC Crono is more familiar, more local. I adapt more to the clients. It is evident that I cannot rent a premium car like an Audi or BMWs, but rather I go with Fiat Pandas, Opels, Citroens or Peugeots and therefore the prices can be more adjusted. They usually do not have vans and I do, etcetera.

This summer there have been several complaints from residents who have needed a rental car and certain large companies have refused to rent to them. Why?

— Because many times they have the impression that a resident will return the vehicle dirtier to you, or that they will ask to have the car for a few more days... and foreigners come here, they spend a series of already established days, a weekend, two, but they know that they will have the car on that day at that time. And perhaps that is why they are not interested.

What are your conditions?

— I give an insurance with a 300 euro deductible as a deposit, in case there is any incident. And then as I was telling you, depending on the days and weeks it gets cheaper. Everything is a very simple process.

What is your client typology: civil servants, teachers, do they work at the hospital, or do they come for the tourist season?

— All types of clients. Clients who come from companies to spend a few weeks, people whose cars have broken down and need another one to function day to day. People who have a license but do not have a car, and need one punctually. Relatives who visit residents and need a car or a van for the days they are there...

Why is there almost no competition for local rentals in Manacor?

— In our area there is one in Portocristo, for example, but little else.

How do you see the future? How would you like the company to grow?

— The aspiration is to become a car rental service directly at the airport, having a fleet of vehicles there. And in the Llevant area, for example, to have fixed services at hotels, at the Rafa Nadal Academy... Furthermore, I have a very interesting project for the future, which is to be able to distribute a series of vehicles throughout this area of the island so that customers can book them and open them without the need for a key, simply with their mobile phone. In such a way that they can have a vehicle very close to wherever they are and not have to come here every time.