Washington, DC (CNN) Uber launched car rentals in its app in
the USA on Wednesday, and will launch a valet
service next month in DC to drive them to customers.
The car rental program, called Uber
Rent, will offer in-app bookings from brands like Avis and Hertz.
Prices will be set by the rental
companies, Uber said, and it will take a cut of the bookings, similar to how
traveling booking sites operate.
There has been a shortage of rentals cars in the US after
rental companies sold off much of their idle fleets early in the Covid-19
pandemic.
Uber will initially offer a 10% rebate
on all bookings with Uber Cash, money that can be spent on Uber's app for other
purchases. The company didn't say how long the 10% discount will last.
Its competitor Lyft began offering
car rentals in its app in 2019 and has expanded in 15 states and the District
of Columbia through a partnership with the car rental company Sixt.
Uber's valet service will launch in DC
next month. Uber plans to expand driving cars to customers nationwide later
this year. The price for valet service will be similar to the cost of an
on-demand ride.
Valet drivers will be drawn from anyone
on Uber's platform who is over 25. Tips can be left for Valet drivers.
Rental deliveries will be contactless given social distancing concerns.
Uber will develop authentication methods like using a PIN code to make sure only the customer can access their vehicle. Washington DC, where Uber will launch Uber Valet, has seen an increase in auto thefts this year.
From CNN (edited)
