General Motors has decided to phase out their Maven car-sharing service.
In an e-mail sent out to members, the company said “After critically looking at our business, the industry, and what’s going with COVID-19, we have made the tough but necessary decision to wind down our business.”
The news was confirmed by GM’s vice president of global innovation, Pamela Fletcher, who told The Verge “We’ve gained extremely valuable insights from operating our own car-sharing business. Our learnings and developments from Maven will go on to benefit and accelerate the growth of other areas of GM business.”
Also Read: GM Launches Turo Competitor, Allows Owners To Rent Out Their Personal Vehicle
The decision to cease operating comes roughly a month after Maven suspended service due to the coronavirus pandemic. At the time, the company cancelled upcoming reservations and blocked users from renting out their vehicles.
Maven was launched in 2016 as a personal mobility brand and expanded in 2018 to allow owners and lessees of 2015 and newer GM vehicles to easily rent out their cars. When the expansion was announced, GM said “The new peer-to-peer offering provides a hassle-free way for owners to generate income from their car when they’re not using it.”
The service was pretty interesting as it allowed you to find a car online, make a reservation and then use your smartphone as a digital key. However, the service was limited to select markets and it doesn’t appear Maven was very popular.
While Maven is biting the dust, GM won’t exit the mobility segment. Instead, they’re switching gears as their future efforts are built around the Cruise Origin which is an autonomous electric vehicle that aims to change the way we move place to place.
