Uber acquires Aussie car-sharing startup Car Next Door

Aussie startup Car Next Door has been acquired by global car-sharing giant Uber, for an undisclosed sum.

Founded in 2012, Car Next Door is a peer-to-peer car-sharing network that works in a similar way to Airbnb, allowing people to rent out their vehicles to neighbors.

A statement from Uber said the acquisition is intended to bolster its mission of providing customers with an alternative to car ownership, giving Uber users another option more suited to things like running errands or taking a daytrip.

Car Next Door will continue to operate independently, with the existing leadership team remaining on board to continue to grow the Aussie business.

The two businesses share a vision to “make transport not just safe, convenient and affordable — but also sustainable”, said Dom Taylor, Uber general manager for Australia and New Zealand.

He pointed to Uber’s investments in things like Uber Pool and its drive for the uptake of electric vehicle usage.

“What our app users haven’t had though, is the option for those mid-range and longer-distance trips,” he added.

“This deal will change that.”

Car Next Door co-founder and chief executive Will Davies said in a statement the acquisition poses an “exciting opportunity” for the business, furthering its mission to change the ‘one-person, on-car’ mentality “years before we otherwise could have”.

After 10 years in the market — and incidentally 10 years after Uber launched in Australia — Davies has seen attitudes towards car ownership starting to shift, he added.

“We know that many of our members are already combining carshare and rideshare with shared bikes and scooters, walking and public transport for a mobility mix that suits their lifestyle,” he said.

“We see this deal as a big step towards making car-free or car-light living accessible to more people in more places and freeing up space for people, not parking.”