With Croove, Mercedes unveils the Airbnb for cars
Talk about kismet! We just wrote about how when you examine the hours of actual use with one’s vehicle (car or truck) vs. the total cost of ownership, it’s really rather impractical. Now Mercedes unveils a potential answer to such low utilization levels that is another step in the direction of our Asset Lite investing theme for the auto industry.
In a test in Munich, Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a new app called Croove that lets any vehicle owner rent out their car when they’re not using it.
The company has also been investing and trying out various existing ride-sharing services as it continues its journey into the future, but Croove is different from other initiatives and services in that it’s completely peer to peer.
Mercedes-Benz refers to it as an “Airbnb for cars” that is open to all brands and models. Car owners simply register on the app with a profile of the vehicle and information about when it can be rented. Vehicles must be in good condition and not more than 15 years old.
Customers looking to borrow a car must specify that they are at least 21 years old and possess a valid driver’s license. Then they fill out a digital checklist on the vehicle’s condition as they pick it up (and again after the ride), and pay for their ride.
Right now, Croove is available to users of iOS devices and only in Munich, but Mercedes said it may expand the service.
Source: brandchannel: On Verge of US Sales Crown, Mercedes Unveils Croove Car-Renting App
