- Free app now available for download
- CarUnity important part of Opel mobility services
- Cooperation with ridesharing platform flinc to be intensified
Rüsselsheim. “Better off sharing” („Wer teilt, fährt besser“) – is the motto of Opel’s new carsharing community CarUnity. The innovative carsharing concept launched by the Rüsselsheim automaker in Germany appeals both to vehicle owners and to vehicle users. CarUnity enables them to offer their own car for rental or to rent a car of their choice quickly, easily and flexibly. It does not matter if the car is an Opel or a different brand. From today, the CarUnity app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play.
“We are taking a new approach with CarUnity. Opel is the first automaker to offer carsharing for everyone. CarUnity enables individual mobility everywhere in Germany – at any time and with greatest flexibility”, explains Chief Marketing Officer Tina Müller. “People in Germany can offer their car for rental or rent a car with the free app. Private carsharing fits to our brand – after all, approachable is one of our brand values.“
Carsharing à la Opel has many advantages: car owners all over Germany can earn money with their cars and car renters can use cars in their vicinity for reasonable prices. And with CarUnity, the use of existing cars will be increased, which conserves resources. Fuel costs are covered by the renter. “The slogan ‘Better off sharing’ says it all”, says Dr. Jan Wergin, who as Director Opel Community Carsharing masterminded the development of CarUnity: “Everyone involved benefits from this clever carsharing idea.”
Thanks to the innovative app, car owners can decide who may rent their car. CarUnity users can, for example, offer their car only to their Facebook friends or to people in their personal CarUnity network. The entire transaction takes only a few seconds with the user-friendly app.
Insurance is of course provided for the rental cars. The Opel Bank GmbH developed a comprehensive package for this, and the insurance coverage itself is provided by R+V Allgemeine Versicherung AG.
Marketing for CarUnity is initially focused on the Rhine-Main region and includes cooperation with the radio station FFH, billboards at busy traffic hubs such as main railway stations as well as communication on social media networks. Many private individuals, Opel employees and dealers have already made their cars available to the community for the premiere of CarUnity. Some automotive treasures from Opel Classic can also be found on CarUnity.
Expanding the portfolio of mobility services is an important element of Opel’s plan for the future. “With CarUnity, early on we introduce young people who want to be mobile but do not have their own car to the Opel brand,” says Tina Müller. “In the future it will be increasingly important to develop from a product manufacturer to a mobility service provider with an outstanding network. CarUnity and our new personal connectivity and service assistant Opel OnStar will play an important role in digitalizing the Opel brand.”
Against the background of the increasing importance of mobility services, Opel also announced closer cooperation with the ridesharing platform flinc. From 2016, flinc will provide the technical platform so that ridesharing can also be offered via the car-sharing app. “Just like for CarUnity, we will go our very own way,” explains Jan Wergin. Further details will be announced at a later date.
Just a few months ago, Opel started a successful cooperation with flinc for all employees at the headquarters in Rüsselsheim. “flinc’s technology has the potential to play an important role in Opel’s focus on expanding mobility services for customers throughout Europe,” says Tina Müller.
