1.6. Our involvement and relationship with stakeholders

Stakeholders are defined as any group of people or any person who influences or is affected by the work of our organisation or who can influence the values of our organisation.

As stakeholders (internal and external) are part of the context in which our organisation operates, key stakeholders and their interests in relation to the organisation are identified and related obligations are determined.

These obligations are considered for the maintenance of the management system:

Groups/people/organisations interacting with theorganisation;
Groups / individuals / organisations that have authority over the organisation;
Groups/people/organisations that are influenced by the organisation.

The scope of analysis and identification of our company’s stakeholders is extremely broad and varied, as a result, stakeholder identification was done by segmenting according to relationship intensity:

Central area – ongoing relationships (employees, management, shareholders etc.);
External area – discontinuous (on & off) relationships (customers, suppliers, neighbours, insurers etc.);
Peripheral area – occasional (contextual) relationships (universities, professional associations, NGOs etc.).

We have submitted to a new analysis the stakeholder groups for consideration as part of the materiality process in the first part of 2023. We also identified and assessed risks and opportunities in 2022, considering both value chain analysis and stakeholder needs and expectations analysis.

Considering the specific stakeholder needs identified through the stakeholder – needs mapping, with those groups with medium and high influence on the organization, Autonom develops specific engagement activities, transparently creating medium and long-term partnerships to understand mutual needs and expectations.

Main stakeholder groups	Type of stakeholders	Level of interest in the organisation (Low, medium, high)	Level of power/influence (Low, Medium, High)	Type of interaction desired
Employees working in our agencies or in support functions	Internal	High	High	Intense dialogues, process of involvement with specific actions
Management	Internal	High	High	Intense dialogues, process of involvement with specific actions
Shareholders	Internal	High	High	Intense dialogues, process of involvement with specific actions
Customers	External	High	High	Intense dialogues, process of involvement with specific actions
Services/direct materials/utilities/other providers	External	High	High	Intense dialogues, process of involvement with specific actions
Investor/Analyst/Bank Representative/Rating Company	External	High	High	Intense dialogues, process of involvement with specific actions
Universities/Schools/ Kindergartens	External	Medium	Medium	Information, communication and meeting expectations
International/local NGOs/Professional associations	External	Medium	Medium	Information, communication and meeting expectations
Press/mass-media/bloggers-social media	External	Medium	Medium	Information, communication and meeting expectations
Public authorities	External	Medium	Low	Information
Neighbours/owners of the space rented by the company	External	Medium	Low	Information
Competitors	External	Medium	Low	Information
Potential employees	External	Medium	Low	Information

Specifically at the 2022 level, we conducted the following engagement and dialogue activities that helped us implement market opportunities and mitigate some risks that would have impacted our business and strategic objectives. We seek to build close relationships with our stakeholders and seek to ensure a balance between our operations and their expectations.

Involvement of external stakeholders

Meetings and working visits with various external institutional partners such as the EBRD and the EIB. With the European Investment Bank, we have developed a dialogue on the possibility of obtaining financing to accelerate our transition to a greener fleet, resulting in the €15 million green loan obtained in autumn 2022. We also received a visit from EBRD representatives to strengthen the relationship and monitor the achievement of the agreed objectives.
Business meetings and dialogue for long-term collaboration. We continued our meetings with car manufacturers. In 2022 the management of the organisation had meetings with representatives of Tesla company to establish the parameters of the contract for new car purchase.
Promote the transition to green mobility directly to customers. Initiated and conducted various meetings and presentations with customers about the transition to lower emission fleets.
Consultations and working groups in various associations and initiatives, local business clubs.
Customer satisfaction assessment, by collecting direct feedback and monitoring the NPS score of the main services offered.
Community-related projects with direct employee involvement.
Business Elite – events dedicated to local business communities.
Social media communication channels. We respond to all questions that are raised on these channels by communicating effectively through various means and clarify key issues raised by clients or other stakeholders.
Online questionnaires and assessments on the importance and relevance of material sustainability issues from an external perspective.

Involvement of internal stakeholders

Internal initiatives of employee and management engagement in the form of projects, training and workshops.
Internal feedback collection after 3 months employment period and upon departure from the organisation.
Online questionnaires and assessments on the importance and relevance of material sustainability issues from an internal employee perspective.

Throughout the consultations launched to analyse the relevant material issues from internal and external perspectives and to shape the information related to the specific chapter of the Sustainability Report, we received several suggestions and recommendations from our stakeholders. Some of these were considered relevant and are in view of the Strategic Sustainability Committee, others are already included in various internal or external initiatives that we will pursue.

To have a more structured overview, we have categorised them under the three ESG pillars (Environment, Social, Governance) but we have not forgotten to take into account the encouragement received from respondents.

Environment
Reducing CO_₂ emissions Creating green spaces at Autonom agencies and Involvement in the local community for ecology Complete removal of combustion engine vehicles, replacing the fleet with electric cars Transitioning to zero emission cars as quickly as possible and developing their own charging network (e.g. electric charging stations, hydrogen fuelling stations) Creating or participating in mobility infrastructure development programmes and sustainable micro-mobility in urban areas Implementation of an Environmental Education programme in the Autonom Agencies in the country (energy reduction, office waste management) Less car use, encourage cycling and walking Supply chain partner education and customers about the importance of reducing CO_₂ emissions Quality product offer for environmental protection and care for the most efficient use of natural resources Involvement in major reforestation programmes. Achieving climate neutrality by buying carbon certificates and/or planting as many trees as possible Planning and managing the recycling of used parts and used batteries of electrical machines after their replacement Green energy production

Social
Engagement of all Autonom agencies in the local community for education Implementation and support of educational projects in schools to make students aware of their responsibility to protect the environment and the impact of human activities on the environment and on the quality of life. Social responsibility for children on the autism spectrum, valuing gifted children – long-term attention and support! Organisation and involvement in sports events Involvement in preserving traditions Increase constructive community impact through proactive collaboration with partners and competing organisations Possible employee success stories with relevance to those still in school, work visits/job shadowing for students/high school. Investment in local community projects

Social Social

Engagement of all Autonom agencies in the local community for education
Implementation and support of educational projects in schools to make students aware of their responsibility to protect the environment and the impact of human activities on the environment and on the quality of life.
Social responsibility for children on the autism spectrum, valuing gifted children – long-term attention and support!
Organisation and involvement in sports events
Involvement in preserving traditions
Increase constructive community impact through proactive collaboration with partners and competing organisations
Possible employee success stories with relevance to those still in school, work visits/job shadowing for students/high school.
Investment in local community projects

Governance – Economic
Digitising processes Initiatives to increase transparency related to internal culture and processes Special financing offers for electric cars and hybrid cars Electric car sales campaigns to Operational Leasing customers Maintaining and encouraging teamwork with responsibility and professionalism, promptness and maintaining social and communication relations at the highest level Increasing the quality of services offered, advising customers, communicating transparently with them Increasing the efficiency of small claims settlement Providing resources for individual professional development of employees, resources to ensure business continuity in economic conditions affected by crises Developing agencies in other cities Educating/informing and engaging employees in various programmes/contests that encourage activities aimed at protecting the environment in the long term Increased community involvement, employee and customer satisfaction Increasing market visibility.

Motivational
All speed ahead! You are PROFI. Currently all Autonom approaches are Superlative! Congratulations on consistent and relevant engagement in important areas. I strongly encourage you to keep your business approach focused on the task of your customers. Good luck! Congratulations for the activities carried out and we hope to join you in educating the little ones for a clean and healthy environment. I wish you a year full of achievements! The team looking after us is perfect as it is! Keep up the good work! :)

An analysis of the recommendations received in the previous year following the stakeholder consultation process shows that most of the proposals have been successfully implemented. Their summary can be found in the table on the next page.

Recommendations 2021 (summary)	Remarks / Processing	Status 2022
Environment pillar
Purchase of hybrid and electric cars for the rental fleet/Electrification of the rental fleet	It is part of the substitution programme under the Sustainability Strategy. We have obtained a green loan from the European Investment Bank of €15 million specifically for this purpose. The first of the 200 Tesla cars ordered arrived in the first quarter of 2023.	Achieved and will continue
Display of the pollution rate of each vehicle in the rental processes	It is in the plan considered by the operational team, both for the rental and long-term fleet.	Implemented, to be launched in 2023
Separate collection initiatives in agencies	We signed a national contract with a well-known partner in the field. The amount of selectively collected waste has increased significantly compared to the previous year.	Achieved and will continue
Reducing paper consumption by digitising processes	We have a project already launched and are continuing the digitisation of internal processes	Achieved and will continue
Promoting the concept of ridesharing and its benefits for both the community and the environment	Implemented, through customers with this business and the launch of a corporate car sharing solution for companies.	Achieved and will continue
People and community pillar
Facilitating access for people with disabilities to purchase/use vehicles	We have had requests; we will create internally a simple process to facilitate faster access for stakeholder requests	We analyse the technical solution
Employing people with disabilities	A guide is being prepared and is planned to be launched in 2023	Work in process
Involving and supporting planting and greening activities	We are involved and will continue to be	Achieved and will continue
Sports fundraising events to support various foundations, tree planting, waste collection, etc.	We are already running projects in these areas, we will make them more visible and better structured internally.	Achieved and will continue
LGBT awareness campaign	Will be addressed in the Human Rights Policy	Draft
Financing courses/training in health education in various social centres and campaigns to support the health system	We will analyse such a project for potential launch in the community	Made through the Autonom Foundation and we will continue
Professionalisation and personal development projects for rural teachers	We have developed and will further develop mentoring programmes for teachers (e.g. Teach for Romania)	Achieved and will continue
Promote volunteer activities and those with an impact on the local community, so that other collaborators, neighbours, or clients can help and contribute to the success of the proposed project.	We will increase the visibility for these, we are already addressing them internally, we have extended the invitation for involvement to external stakeholders as well.	Achieved and will continue
Sustainable business and governance pillar
Long-term approach to green investment projects, green financing, green bonds	It is part of the development of the Sustainability Strategy launched in 2021. We are currently prospecting the market for green opportunities.	Achieved and will continue
Customer safety	We are internally developing preventive driving courses, which we have also extended to partners. We will continue. It's important for us, but also for our customers	Achieved and will continue