GM Unveils Its Car-Sharing Program In NYC

Car-sharing services such as Zipcar and Uber cater to city dwellers and other people who find it convenient to not own a car, but still want access to one from time to time. Due to the continuing growth of this sector, GM is launching a pilot project for residents of the Ritz Plaza apartments in Times Square, offering them the ability to rent GM cars by the hour. Manhattan is known as being one of the most densely populated locations in the world, which makes it a challenging place to own a car, and gives GM’s rental service the potential to be a highly lucrative concept.

The company’s car-sharing program is called “Let’s Drive NYC”. Customers receive three hours of vehicle use per month, with additional time starting at under $10 per hour, or up to $75 for 24 hours, making the service very competitive with Zipcar’s rates in the city. For now, the program is only available to residents of a single 479-unit building In New York City, and an intriguing detail is that the service has access to 200 parking garages in Manhattan that are managed by Icon Parking Systems. Therefore, for busy New Yorkers who have the occasional need for a car to buy furniture or other large items, GM’s rental program could prove to be a great option. Let’s Drive NYC has a lineup of vehicles that fits this concept well, with eight Chevy Trax and two Chevy Equinox SUVs available to rent, with more cars expected to be added as the project expands.

“Having a car in the city didn’t seem realistic, but ‘Let’s Drive NYC’ changes that,” said Andy Chediak, a New York City resident. “The quick-and-easy access to a car on demand at the Ritz Plaza is a game-changer that fundamentally alters my approach to transportation, with new opportunities that weren’t previously practical.”

Unlike many other mobility service offerings, Let’s Drive NYC leverages integrated and existing OnStar connectivity technologies and services such as remote diagnostic status, and access to OnStar advisors with the simple push of a button.

“Customers want options on how to move from Point A to Point B that provide flexibility and personalization,” explained GM President Dan Ammann. “Let’s Drive NYC is just one part of GM’s global urban mobility strategy. We view evolving consumer preferences, such as car-sharing, as real business opportunities, where we can quickly build on our existing capabilities such as OnStar connectivity to very effectively meet customer needs.”

Although GM’s program is quite conservative in both scope and function, it may be only the beginning of a much grander plan. The automaker has also been talking recently about its expanding investments in autonomous driving, EVs, and a new e-bike, all of which have the potential to factor into car-sharing programs in the future.