Zipcar, a ride-sharing service with a nearly identical platform to General Motors’ recently announced Maven, doesn’t seem to mind having a new kid on the block when it comes to car sharing.
Zipcar, which has been around for 16 years and hosts 60 vehicles in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area, said it feels the two services can certainly co-exist, according to a report from The Detroit News. Maven will launch Thursday with 16 pilot vehicles in the same Ann Arbor area near the University of Michigan.
“We feel that GM is late to the game, but again, we find it validating that more companies are recognizing the value of car sharing,” the company said in a statement. “These companies help us get closer to our vision of a world where car sharers outnumber car owners.”
Both Zipcar and Maven require the use of a smartphone app to request a vehicle, and both offer rates staring below $10 an hour for a vehicle. Gas and insurance is included in the hourly rate.
The nationwide car-sharing service reiterated it does not think GM will begin to steal any of the company’s business.
“The auto manufacturers are really good partners of ours,” Ceille said. “The fact that they’re testing different models in and around the world is a testament to how the world will continue to evolve and the need for us to partner even more.”
Zipcar is currently backed by Ford and Honda through partnerships to host vehicles across college campuses in the United States.
Meanwhile, GM is optimistic that Maven will offer a more compelling reason to use the service, which includes the ability to travel out of state and does not require a sign-up fee.
Maven will expand to additional cities across the U.S. this summer.
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