ZipCar exec starts Audi-only Silvercar rental service
updated 04:14 pm EDT, Wed October 17, 2012
Silvercar aims to do for rentals what iTunes did for music
A former executive at car rental service ZipCar has started up his own very specialized car rental service: one with a fleet consisting solely of Audis. Silvercar aims to provide a VIP-style rental service that streamlines the car rental process, allowing customers to bypass much of the hassle of renting by providing just one type of car.
The Silvercar process begins with a mobile phone application, where users reserve a car. Users can move past the car checkout line and straight to the Audi A4 of their choice. The app unlocks the car and activates satellite radio presets that the user chose previously, and the user's destination is already programmed into the car's navigation.
For return, the app instructs users on when to arrive at an airport based on TSA lines and flight schedules. The A4 also automatically reports how much gas it has used and how much money is due for tolls.
The system was designed by former ZipCar CTO Luke Schneider. Schneider spoke with Wired about the company, but he was not forthcoming with regard to a launch window or launch locations. Reportedly, the company is looking at a southwest launch, possibly at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Schneider also gave no details on how much it would cost to rent an A4, but he said it would be competitive with the cost for a full-sized sedan from one of the big agencies. [via LeftLane News]
