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UFODrive, a European-based electric vehicle rental company, landed in San Francisco on Thursday, marking the startup’s expansion into the US.
The startup, which offers consumers an easy and contactless way to rent and register EVs, is coming to California at a time when gas prices are still high. Incredibly high, at $5.56. This number has decreased in recent weeksIt is still narrowing the national average. Combine that with an ongoing rental car shortage and a cultural zeitgeist that embraces all things electric, and UFODrive has found itself a potentially winnable product-market fit.
The launch of UFODrive’s US operation follows the company’s rapid growth in 16 cities across Europe since its founding in 2018, including London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam and Dublin. The startup plans separate launches for New York and Austin in October.
Other companies have cropped up around the world to provide similar services. for example, on And imove Provide monthly EV registrations in the UK and Norway. Where UFODrive differs is that it offers classic daily or weekly rentals and monthly subscriptions. That said, the San Francisco startup will initially offer pure rent.
According to Aidan McLean, CEO of UFODrive, registration can be done on the UFODrive app, where each customer is guided through the entire process – registration, identity verification, finding the vehicle, damage verification, contract signing and driving.
Customers in the Bay Area can visit one of two carports located on both Market Streets in downtown San Francisco and then use the app to give them keyless access to their vehicle.
UFODrive worked with inspiration, TNew York-based Revel, an EV asset finance firm that has offered its own Tesla to ride-on snowObjectives, 20 Tesla Model 3s and Model Ys to launch on site. As the startup did in Europe, UFODrive plans to lead with the Tesla Dazzle in the first places and expand the range based on customer input and availability, according to McClean, who said UFODrive is looking forward to including Ford in that lineup.
In Europe, they are ships It is primarily made up of the Tesla Model 3, Model S and Model Y, Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4, Hyundai Kona EV, Cupra Born, Polestar and others, McClean said.
A software platform designed to reduce EV damage
Customers can unlock their rented electric vehicles through the UFODrive app. Image Credits: UFODrive
“One of our biggest concerns when we started UFODrive was not only to make people comfortable with EVs, but also to reduce or eliminate stress during the rental period,” McClean told TechCrunch. “From Day 1, our platform was built to identify issues before they happen. The team will be notified if a customer doesn’t complete the pickup phase, can’t start the vehicle, is driving with less than 30 percent battery, struggling to charge at a station, etc. If you haven’t already contacted us, you can proactively contact us to make sure the customer is OK. As a result, we have never had a range or charging problem in over 20 million kilometers of driving.
The UFODrive platform is built to guide drivers to the bay exit, deliver them to the nearest charger, and guide them on how to charge their vehicle. If a customer has a problem, they can use the app to reach the startup’s customer service agents 24/7, who can remotely unlock or start the car, use cameras to check for unreported breakdowns, and perform system updates. Conduct identity checks and add drivers, McClean said.
It’s this software platform that UFODrive hopes to sell as a SaaS product on the side, specifically to help legacy rental companies transition their rental models to EVs. Of course, car rental is huge Hertz and travel-focused investment firm Sertarus led UFODrive’s Series A round in March.This suggests that larger partnerships are possible in this space.. Hertz seems keen to switch to EVs – by October 2021; The company says it is investing in Tesla’s fleet. and is committed to offering the largest EV rental fleet in North America.
How does the price compare?
UFODrive hasn’t posted pricing for San Francisco yet, but in Amsterdam, for example, renting a Tesla from scratch for the weekend can average around $200, depending on the model. A quick search on flight, hotel and car rental aggregator Kayak shows similar price points for internal combustion engine vehicles, and that doesn’t include the cost of gas and additional drivers.
UFODrive’s rental price includes things like additional drivers, multiple invoices and free shipping, according to McClain.
“No matter your mileage or distance, there are no energy costs for rentals,” he said. “It used to be a good deal, but with current gas prices and price increases at legacy rental businesses, it’s great.”
McClain also pointed to UFODrive’s loyalty rewards program, which helps reduce rental costs.
“To reach our goal of moving people to sustainable rentals, we have to be competitive, but because the EV model is inherently more efficient, we can be competitive and profitable,” McClean said.
While UFODrive is launching with a consumer push, the company envisions itself as a solution for long-haul delivery drivers and last-mile transportation, according to a company spokesperson.
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