Car-sharing, is it a consumer trend or the way towards autonomous driving?
Have you ever had a priest and a driver in one person? As funny as it sounds, if you use car-sharing services like Uber, Lyft, BlaBlaCar or any other, you can easily find yourself in such a situation.
What is car-sharing?
There are two types of car-sharing: taxi-like services and peer-to-peer car-rental. The first one has been getting more and more popular, because it works like a taxi. You pay for your ride from A to B. In the latter case you rent someone else’s car.
Is the automotive industry really supporting car-sharing services?
The most interesting thing is that not just car-sharing service providers are in this business, but some actors from the automotive industry are also supporting this movement. But why does an automotive manufacturer support a car-sharing service? Isn’t that bad for the business? It seems on the contrary.
Car manufactures are also investing in car-sharing services
The biggest news at the beginning of the year was that General Motors invested $500 million in it, chasing the dream of the autonomous car. “We see the future of personal mobility as connected, seamless and autonomous,” said GM President Dan Ammann in a statement. “With GM and Lyft working together, we believe we can successfully implement this vision more rapidly” – wrote the Time – which, I must say, is pretty fascinating. Furthermore, because of the shift in consumer behaviour, other car manufacturers like Daimler or BMW have also started to develop their own car-sharing systems.
Imagine a world where self-driving vehicles are running on the roads and you can order a ride by clicking on an application on your phone. Would you like to travel with a BMW or a Chevrolet? Here you go!
Ok, but what’s in it for us? Why is it good to use car-sharing services?
- It is cheaper than using your own car alone or ordering a taxi.
- It is convenient, usually there is someone around you when you need a ride. This applies for bigger cities more of course, but who knows what will happen in the future?
- Enjoy a more carefree way of travelling, and do away with maintenance costs.
- And what is with the environment? The more people are using the same car, the smaller your ecological footprint will be.
- You can even earn money by sharing your car, but of course think about your national regulation first. Do some reading and choose the best-fitting solution for you.
- Get to know new people! It is always interesting to come to know some new faces, but proceed with caution.
- Thanks to the internet and the applications, you can also monitor your ride: when it will arrive, where you are exactly during the ride, and so on.
Now are you ready for the car-sharing experience? Share your thoughts with us!
Author: Anita @AnitaKocsis910
Anita is an employee of Bare International. Besides her work
at the Social Media and Recruitment team, she loves doing yoga,
travelling and reading. Her love for the automotive industry came
from the passion for innovations and technology. She has a master’s
degree in International Economics and Business.
Interested in becoming an Automotive Evaluator with BARE International?
[maxbutton id=”9″]
Want to be a guest blogger for BARE’s Automotive community We Are Cars?
Apply to: akocsis@bareinternational.com
