Car rental between individuals, one of the most promising sectors of the collaborative economy, did not decline in 2016. Drivy, which claims the leading position of this new market with 40,000 vehicles in its listings in Europe, including 31,000 in France, said it doubled its rental volume last year. "We have increased from 50% to 60% over the same period," said Marion Carrette, the founder of OuiCar, which has 30,000 cars to rent in France and a million users.
To keep up the momentum, Drivy wants to accelerate the deployment of Drivy Open, a technology that opens the doors of the vehicle with its smartphone and eliminates the need to meet to hand over the keys. The housing, rented 29 euros per month, is particularly appreciated by the owners who realize several rentals per month. 500 vehicles would already be equipped, especially in Paris.
YesCar, which has the same technology, is more withdrawn, but is experiencing a partnership with its majority shareholder, the SNCF. Almost 50 service vehicles have been equipped with the box and are available for hire on weekends, when agents of the public company do not use them, in the car parks of the stations of Reims, Saint-Brieuc or Bordeaux. The experience is intended to be extended.
Recommendations
More surprisingly, the young shoot has established an agreement with ... Avis. A customer seeking to rent a car in a fortnight in the 11th arrondissement of Paris sees himself for example proposing among the first 20 vehicles 3 coming from the neighborhood agency of the American multinational. "It helps us meet some last-minute demands," says Marion Carrette. We are currently in the testing phase. "
The prices displayed by the classic renter are not necessarily much more expensive. This illustrates a problem faced by YesCar as well as by Drivy: some individuals are attracted by the prospect of rounding their end of month by renting their 2006 Renault Mégane, but the price they ask for is prohibitive. "We still have pedagogical work to do on this subject," says Paulin Dementhon, the founder of Drivy. We have just developed a recommendation engine that takes into account the year and the model, in order to give more precise advice. It is not up to us to fix prices, but a marketplace like ours must ensure that the offer is coherent. "
YesCar, for its part, delivers recommendations similar to its customers and has been offering them for several weeks to adjust the rates in the high season (summer holidays) to take advantage of the stronger demand - as do the Renters - without leaving the market.
