Lyft To Enter Car Repair Business, Will Open 35 Shops This Year Across The U.S.

Lyft will open dozens of vehicle repair garages across the United States in a bid to further expand its ride-hailing business.

The company intends on opening 35 locations by the end of the year, the first of which was just opened somewhere in San Francisco. Lyft says its garages will charge 50 per cent less on common repairs than normal garages while also providing 50 per cent faster service. For example, it will cost $70 for a wash, oil change, and tire rotation with labor charges set at $95 an hour.

Lyft’s host of repair garages forms part of the new ‘Lyft Driver Services’, a programme designed to support drivers. One of the key services introduced through this program is the Lyft Direct Debit Card which offers access to more than 20,000 fee-free ATMs, unlimited fee-free payouts, as well as add-ons like 2 per cent cash back on gas, 1 per cent cash back on groceries and discounts at select dining locations of up to 4 per cent.

Lyft is fast becoming more than just a ride-hailing company

This isn’t all. In the lead-up to its initial public offering, Lyft has announced it will launch a mobile repair service next month in the Bay Area where repair vans travel to you and perform repairs at home, work, or wherever is convenient.

Other services introduced as part of Lyft’s new programmes are added incentives for drivers to switch to Geico’s all-in-one rideshare insurance policy. Lyft will also introduce a number of language learning and education services for its drivers starting this spring.

The Lyft Driver Services programme announcement comes just days before the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange on March 29.