Car Sharing Excellence: Selecting Vehicles and Streamlining Operations for Success

goUrban
goUrban
3 min readOct 15, 2023

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Imagine a bustling urban landscape, where shared mobility isn’t just a trend but a way of life. The demand for shared mobility is soaring, yet we’ve witnessed a wide spectrum of offerings, some nailing their service quality and reliability, while others struggle to gain user adoption. In this blog post, we’re unveiling insider tips to excel in two pivotal aspects of car sharing success.

I. Quality of Service: The Art of Vehicle Selection

In the realm of shared mobility, the choice of vehicles holds immense significance. While it’s tempting to opt for budget-friendly options to increase availability, compromising user satisfaction is not an option. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Strategic Selection: Choose vehicles that align perfectly with your service requirements. It goes beyond cost — it’s about nurturing long-term user loyalty.
  • Access to Resources: Ensure prompt access to spare parts, expertise, and advancements for your vehicle models from day one. Proactive maintenance minimizes downtime and ensures fleet efficiency.
  • Cost Efficiency: Keep a keen eye on expenses. Spare parts for different models from the same brand might be identical, yet their prices can vary. Be cost-savvy.
  • Decisive Choices: Be confident in your brand and model selection. For example, while omitting features like air conditioning might seem like a cost-saving measure, it can lead to discontented users during scorching summer days. Prioritize user comfort.

It’s important to note that the process of selecting the right vehicles for your car sharing fleet is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Factors such as the demographics of your target users, geographical location, and the competitive landscape play a significant role in making informed decisions. Conducting thorough market research and considering user feedback can help refine your vehicle selection strategy.

Moreover, establishing partnerships with automotive manufacturers or dealerships can provide you with access to the latest models and special pricing, making your fleet more appealing to users.

II. Operations: Workshop Wisdom

Efficient operations serve as the backbone of car sharing success. Here’s how you can refine your vehicle maintenance process:

  • Strategic Workshop Setup: Prioritize repairs judiciously. Not every issue demands immediate attention. Develop a clear plan that outlines which damages will be addressed when. What will be overlooked, and what necessitates immediate repair?

Effective workshop management requires a comprehensive understanding of your vehicle maintenance needs. Conducting regular inspections and implementing preventive maintenance schedules can help you identify potential issues before they escalate, reducing overall repair costs and minimizing downtime.

  • In-house vs. Outsourcing: Collaborating with third-party workshops can be costly, and they may not be well-versed in car sharing intricacies. Handle repairs in-house whenever feasible, outsourcing only those that legally require a certified workshop.

When it comes to in-house maintenance, invest in training and certification for your maintenance team. Skilled technicians can diagnose and repair issues more efficiently, reducing both repair time and costs.

  • Minimize Downtime: Stress the significance of swift vehicle repairs to minimize downtime. An in-house team can significantly enhance efficiency in this regard.

Downtime can be a significant revenue loss for car sharing operators. Implementing a robust maintenance tracking system that identifies patterns of breakdowns and recurring issues can help you proactively address these problems. Additionally, having a spare vehicle or a backup plan can ensure seamless service continuity for users while a vehicle is undergoing maintenance.

Conclusion: In the world of shared mobility, quality of service and efficient operations are non-negotiable. Users opting for shared mobility services expect reliability and top-notch quality, making service excellence imperative. To run a successful and profitable car sharing business, focusing on these elements is paramount.

Stay tuned for more posts covering car, moped, bike, and scooter sharing. If you wish to delve deeper into any of these topics, please don’t hesitate to reach out. goUrban has provided support for operations in various setups across numerous countries, and we’re delighted to share our insights to help you achieve greater success.

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goUrban
goUrban
Editor for

In 2016 we launched our very own sharing fleet in Vienna to develop an operating system for shared mobility close to market needs.