Move over to the slow lane, Uber and Lyft, there's a new mode of transportation in town.
Getaround, a San Fransisco-based carsharing platform that lets users rent and drive cars owned by their neighbors, has launched in Atlanta.
Getaround said it is also investing in the Atlanta region with local employees to support expansion as well as auto body and vendor partnerships. With Atlanta as its newest addition, Getaround is now operating in over 100 cities across the U.S.
“We're very excited to bring Getaround instant carsharing to Atlanta to offer people a fun and safe carsharing experience while also reducing congestion in the city," Sam Zaid, co-founder and CEO of Getaround, told Atlanta Inno.
Just need a car for a day trip or move across town? Users can now use the Getaround app through iOS or Android to rent cars near them by the hour or day. For those who are looking to lower that monthly car bill, you can now rent out your car to those in the community by listing and sharing your car through Getaround.
“Whether it’s offering another option for commuters, the perfect car for a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains, a truck to pick up a TV for your dorm room or freeing travelers from rental car lines at Hartsfield–Jackson, we’re thrilled to now offer Getaround in Atlanta,” Zaid said. “Consumers are embracing technology solutions that make their lives more efficient and fun. Getaround delivers on those needs while also benefiting the broader community by taking cars off the road and reducing pollution.”
In congested traffic metros like Atlanta, Getaround wants to reduce congestion, carbon emissions and take cars off the road.
“In 2018, drivers in Atlanta spent an average of 108 hours in traffic,” Zaid said. “Getaround imagines a world with fewer cars, no more traffic jams and better air quality. We’re bringing Atlanta closer to that vision by providing a fun, safe and sustainable carsharing experience without the need to meet the car owner, carry an access card, or coordinate picking up a car key.”
Zaid said one of the challenges of launching in Atlanta was the size of the sprawling city.
"We have entered the mid/downtown area first and will be expanding to additional areas as we evaluate dynamics of the market," he said.
Cars can be rented by the hour, or the day, with insurance and 24/7 roadside assistance included. Unlike traditional car rental companies, users do not have to fill out a stack of paperwork. Each car listed on the platform will be equipped with Getaround Connect, technology that allows renters to locate and unlock a car through the app, instead of meeting the owner in person to exchange a key.
When asked about what separates Getaround from other platforms like Lyft and Uber, Zaid said there was a major difference between carsharing and ridesharing.
"Getaround puts a wide variety of cars at the fingertips of renters while empowering car owners to earn thousands in extra income," he said.
Investors in Getaround include SoftBank, Menlo Ventures, Braemar Energy Ventures, Asset Plus, Triangle Peak Partners, SPARX Group, Toyota Motor Corporation, Cox Automotive Inc., and SAIC Capital.
