Consumers have been more hesitant to engage with some shared services since health concerns emerged about COVID-19 infections.
But while some short-term car rental services such as Maven and Penske Dash have shuttered because of the pandemic, others — such as Zipcar and Free2Move — are exploring options for profitability.
- General Motors said April 21 that it was shutting down Maven, which began as a short-term rental service in 2016. Maven Gig, which provides short-term leases for vehicles used for ride-hailing or delivery services, also will shut down.
GM's first prominent foray into the mobility space will wind down gradually by market but will likely shut down entirely by late summer.
The service already had been suspended for a month because of market conditions and government restrictions during COVID-19.
Maven's future had been in question since GM ended operations in eight of its 17 markets last year. However, a separate GM mobility project, autonomous vehicle subsidiary Cruise, remains promising.
- Penske Dash ceased its operations in Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Va., less than a year after launching because of long-term market uncertainties surrounding the pandemic. Its last day of service was April 10.
- Share Now, part of a joint venture between BMW and Daimler, ended operations in the U.S. and Canada on Feb. 29, just before the pandemic overtook the auto industry. The venture, formerly known as Car2Go, also said it would halt operations in three European cities — Florence, Italy; London, and Brussels — continuing its services in just 17 cities on the continent.
In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Share Now launched the Care Now program for front-line workers, allowing renters to keep a car for 30 days at a lower cost.
- Instead of folding, Zipcar expanded its Dedicated Zipcar vehicle program in response to the crisis. The program gives Zipcar members exclusive access to keep the same vehicle Monday through Friday.
