Bolt launches car renting service in Europe

Bolt has launched a new car renting service that allows customers to rent a car for short periods of time using the Bolt app. Dubbed Bolt Drive, the ride-hailing company says it will invest €20 million in launching Bolt Drive in Europe this year, starting with a pilot in its home market, Estonia.

Bolt becomes the first mobility platform in Europe to offer car-sharing, ride-hailing and micromobility with scooters and electric bikes in one app. By enabling customers to quickly and conveniently rent a car at the tap of a button, Bolt says it allows them to be less dependent on personal cars and encourages the use of alternative modes of transport for short-distance trips.

“Personal cars are the primary cause of problems in urban transport. They are responsible for traffic, environmental emissions and taking up city space. Bolt’s mission is to help people give up their personal cars by providing a better alternative.” Markus Villig, CEO at Bolt, said.

”For people to switch from ownership to on-demand transport, we need to offer a more convenient, affordable, and environmentally sustainable option for every distance. We are already doing this for short and medium-distance trips. Bolt Drive now covers the rest of the use cases, whether it’s a trip to a shopping mall or a weekend getaway. Our customers will have access to a car at any time, from the same app they already use for scooters, e-bikes and ride-hailing”. he added. 

Bolt Drive is a free-floating car-sharing service, allowing customers to see the vehicles nearest to them on a map and book a car using the Bolt app. They can start the ride by unlocking a car with a mobile phone and finish it anywhere in the city, within an area indicated in the app. Users do not have to pay for parking or fuel.

Bolt does not however mention when it plans to roll out the car renting service to other markets.

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