Ford Launches Peer-2-Peer Car Sharing Program

Between Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and ZipCar there’s no shortage of ride-sharing and car-sharing services out there to meet your specific needs. But having options is always nice.

After launching a pilot for its new GoDrive car-sharing service in London last month, Ford now has another way for drivers to share their rides. Just a few days ago, they announced a new “Peer-2-Peer Car Sharing” program, a ZipCar-type pilot scheme that will allow Ford drivers to rent their cars to other people for short periods of time. However if you’re actually looking for a hiring company for rental cars, you can have a look into these Car Hire Deals and pick the best suited one for you.

The program will involve 14,000 drivers in six US cities — Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, Portland, Chicago, and Washington DC — and 12,000 in London. Drivers will be able to use “web-based, mobile-friendly” software borrowed from ride-share companies Getaround and easyCar Club. Ford also said prospective renters will be pre-screened, going through an approval process before being allowed to borrow your ride. This new program will act more like a traditional car rental service, relying on customers to return vehicles to their owners once their rental period is over.

In the US, Getaround will do the heavy lifting. Like Airbnb, renters can search for a nearby car, book online and then collect the keys from the owner, earning them some extra money in the process. Ford says customers who have credit agreements with the company can enroll for the six-month pilot, with signups closing on August 1st.

Got your eye on your neighbor’s Ford? Take it!

Source: Engadget