BMW to Let Car Owners Rent Out Vehicles Like `Airbnb on Wheels'

Re:BMW to Let Car Owners Rent Out Vehicles Like `Airbnb on W... by bduerst on Monday April 25, 2016 @06:38PM (#11567962)

Yep, and if anything, BMW is going to struggle because it's yet another asset sharing service.

They'll likely get some BMW fans and aficionados, but given the small marketshare that BMW holds, most users are not going to use this as their go-to for getting a car.

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Re:BMW to Let Car Owners Rent Out Vehicles Like `Airbnb on W... by r00fus on Monday April 25, 2016 @06:53PM (#11568040)

Could it turn out to be something similar to AirBnB where it starts out as niche and blossoms from there?

Other thing - if you look at this service as a marketing channel to sell more BMW vehicles... then it doesn't really have to be a dominant service.

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Re:BMW to Let Car Owners Rent Out Vehicles Like `Airbnb on W... by mrdrozdov on Monday April 25, 2016 @07:31PM (#11568232)

> if you look at this service as a marketing channel to sell more BMW vehicles...

I think that's almost certainly what it is. Getting a BMW is a status symbol or a dream for many early drivers. There are lots of ways to get a beamer for cheap, certified pre-owned being a well known one. Maybe being an Uber driver is another way people have tried to finance their cool purchase, but this channel seems like a much more direct one.

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Re:BMW to Let Car Owners Rent Out Vehicles Like `Airbnb on W... by deckar01 on Monday April 25, 2016 @08:53PM (#11568637)

I could see BMW tayloring these vehicles for existing car rental services. Keys are the least convenient part of a car rental. Removing a physical barrier to entry could provide a real edge to sway impulsive customers.

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Re:BMW to Let Car Owners Rent Out Vehicles Like `Airbnb on W... by bduerst on Monday April 25, 2016 @11:53PM (#11569316)

So essentially Zipcar, but with less cars.

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