On Thursday, General Motors launched a new “personal mobility brand” called Maven, through which the company will try to infiltrate the many ride-on-demand companies that have sprung forth from Silicon Valley. The initial business plan involves a car-sharing service, also called Maven, which will allow people to rent GM vehicles à la Zipcar or City CarShare.
The announcement came shortly after GM announced a $500 million investment in Lyft, which it told the public would be used to develop autonomous vehicles as well as to solidify a partnership between the two companies (Lyft will now also allow its drivers to rent GM vehicles if they prefer not to use their own). Then, just two days ago, GM unexpectedly purchased Sidecar, an Uber rival that shut down in December amid intense competition.
“GM is at the forefront of redefining the future of personal mobility,” GM President Dan Ammann said in a statement. Amman went on to say that the automaker’s strategic relationship with Lyft and its decades of work developing GM’s OnStar system would allow Maven "to provide the high level of personalized mobility services our customers expect today and in the future.”
Maven will initially launch in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where 21 GM vehicles will be available for on-demand renting. Depending on phone compatibility, Maven customers will be able to book a car and unlock the car with their smartphone when they arrive. The companion smartphone app will be able to start, heat, and cool the car as well. "Customers can bring their digital lives into the vehicle through Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, OnStar, SiriusXM radio and 4GLTE wireless,” GM wrote in a press release. "Each vehicle will provide an ownership-like experience with the convenience of car-sharing.”
Loading comments...
