Maven has grown at a quickening pace since it first launched in 2016. What was quickly deemed as a Zipcar competitor has morphed into something much more with additional services such as Maven Gig, Maven Home and Maven City.
Julia Steyn, GM vice president for urban mobility programs and head of Maven, delivered a keynote address at the Detroit Athletic Club last week, The Detroit Free Press reported on Saturday, and she said Maven will continue to tackle urban areas head on.
The ride- and car-sharing segment, which GM CEO Mary Barra believes is the greatest industry disruptor, has the potential to open up immense revenue streams for automakers. And with the “gig” economy in full swing, Maven users are consistently booking cars to deliver packages, groceries and drive for Lyft of Uber.
The service also remains a viable option for those who simply don’t want the added expense of owning a car, Steyn said. In her residential building, she said parking can cost $800 per month. Maven lets residents snag a car when needed without any of the added expense.
But every Maven environment has been different, she added. In Chicago, Maven users book a car for some purpose in the financial center, while in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the University of Michigan, less than one-third of users are actually college students. Professors and hospital employees often utilize the service.
Maven now operates in 15 different markets, and its expansion isn’t likely to slow down in 2018. Right now, users can find Maven in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, New York, Jersey City, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Orlando, Boston and Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada.
Comments
Looking for its return to Atlanta. It debuted early 2017 and by the end of year was gone. I used it once for a weekend trip to the mountains and booked an ATS – it was a lot of fun to drive. There was no announcement about exiting the market, just closed all of a sudden.
I hope some of the eastern cities have the Chevy Bolt EV as a Maven vehicle. It is worth spending a few dollars to try it out before leasing or buying.