FCA To Launch Car-Sharing And Subscription Pilot Program In Boston

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will launch a peer-to-peer car sharing service in collaboration with Turo to help boost sales of Jeep models.

Automotive News reports that FCA is recruiting many of its owners to rent their vehicles with Turo, a service that allows vehicles owners to rent out their vehicles through an online platform. In addition, the car manufacturer has partnered with Avis Budget Group for a three-month subscription service where Jeep owners will be able to swap into other vehicles from within the FCA family.

Speaking during the ongoing Detroit Auto Show, head of Jeep in North America Tim Kuniskis said that the pilots will start next week in Boston and be initially restricted to just 100 owners each.

“All these people who are casually going, ‘Is it for me or not for me?,’ I can then get them as potential prospects to sell them a brand-new Wrangler.

“We’ll find out what’s good and what’s bad, what customers like and what they don’t like, and ultimately from that we’ll decide if we want to do this as something we promote to our dealerships at the time of sale,” Kuniskis said.

FCA’s pilot programs are part of a wider industry shift away from traditional forms of ownership and towards much more flexible ones being favored by younger buyers. Many car manufacturers have launched subscription services, to varying degrees of success, as one way to overhaul how people use their vehicles.

According to Kuniskis, one of the biggest difficulties with automotive subscriptions is determining appropriate prices. As part of the pilot, participants will be permitted to change vehicles up to six times during the three-month trial period.

“We know all the pluses and minuses of subscription services, we’ve seen some challenges. Let’s step our toe in, let’s see if this is, No. 1, right for the brand. If it makes sense, let’s try it,” Kuniskis concluded.