At the end of the year, Daimler AG will launch a van-sharing service in London. This is a network of shuttles similar to those already used by residents of New York, Chicago, and Washington, a service that exceeds one million users. The mobile app for van transportation has been developed by Daimler in collaboration with the Amsterdam startup company Via Transportation Inc.
Via and Daimler plan to invest over $200 million in the development of this service, of which only Mercedes-Benz vans will contribute $50 million.
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“On-demand ride-sharing makes public transport in cities significantly more efficient. Via is one of the most successful companies offering services in the growing ride-sharing sector, and Mercedes-Benz vans are the perfect vehicles for this service,” said Volker Mornhinweg, director of Mercedes-Benz vans, to Bloomberg.
Automakers are increasingly entering the business of providing vehicle-sharing services as consumers, especially city dwellers, show a decreasing desire to own a car.
Last month, Toyota Motor Corp. invested significant funds in Grab, the leading transportation platform in Southeast Asia. A year prior, it purchased a stake in Uber Technologies Inc.
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Daimler now offers transportation via an app and van, and has already invested in Car2Go in New York, Mytaxi, and Moovel transport applications. As for the operating principle of Via, it gathers passengers heading in the same direction, picks them up, and drives them to their desired address. This service was first offered by Via in New York back in 2013.
