Maven, a subsidiary of General Motors, has launched an urban car sharing service in Toronto, according to the company.
“Toronto has a unique spirit. Residents are constantly on the go and want more sharing and mobility options,” said Julia Steyn, Vice President, General Motors Urban Mobility and Maven.
With the rise of this type of business and the unknown future that looms ahead for the industry, some automakers have decided to make the leap and jump on the car-sharing bandwagon.
GM’s Maven is one such case, where the company is connecting with urban dwellers by offering them on-demand and hassle-free access to cars through a mobile app. This includes locating, reserving and unlocking the vehicles, something that will appeal to consumers seeking a quick and easy method for reserving a car.
“Bringing Maven car sharing to Toronto not only reduces congestion, but also represents the latest step in the development of General Motors’ mobility footprint in Canada,” said Steve Carlisle, president and managing director, General Motors of Canada.
The Maven City service does not include signup or membership fees and the rate starts at $9.00 per hour. The company will also use GM vehicles like the Chevrolet Cruze, GMC Acadia and Cadillac ATS.
The launch of Maven follows the recent opening of GM’s Canadian Technical Centre-Markham Campus. It is considered to be the “largest automotive technology development centre of its kind in Canada,” according to the automaker. It also serves to help “bring new solutions to existing problems and redefine the future of mobility in Toronto and beyond,” said Carlisle.
