Bruins fans and Maple Leafs fans don’t see eye to eye on much, but soon they’ll both be able to rent a car through Uber. That’s because the rideshare app is set to also become a car-share app in Boston and Toronto.
In a blog post published on its website today, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi writes that the company is expanding Uber Carshare to more locations around the world. The function will allow the app to compete with the likes of Turo, Zipcar, and others.
“There are some moments in life when you might need to drive yourself—whether it’s to run errands or take a weekend getaway,” wrote Khosrowshahi. Uber Carshare “allows you to borrow a car when you need one, so you don’t have to own one. By turning any car into a shared car, you’re increasing efficiency and contributing to more livable neighborhoods.”
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As the CEO noted, the service isn’t brand new for Uber. It actually got into car-sharing last year after it bought Australia’s Car Next Door and rebranded it as Uber Carshare, reports Axios. For North America, the service will launch soon in Boston and Toronto, but a precise timeline is not yet clear.
Availability will be listed in 15 minute increments, which means that you don’t need to book a car in advance. Owners will be allowed to set their own daily and hourly pricing, fuel is included in the price of the rental, and insurance options are available to purchase from Uber.
Although other car-sharing apps haven’t taken off quite like Uber, the rideshare company will face competition from companies like Turo. In 2022, it had over 160,000 active hosts, 320,000 active vehicles, and 2.9 million active guests worldwide. Uber may be able to lean on its name and app to break into the market, though.
“For years, Uber has made it effortless to tap a button and get a ride on demand,” said Camiel Irving, head of Uber’s rides business, in a statement to Axios. “Now, we’re taking the same approach with car-sharing by making it simple, affordable, and sustainable for you to borrow and list cars in your neighborhood.”
