NAIAS 2017: GM's Maven ride-sharing service is designed around millenials

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Detroit - General Motors has shown it is accepting of various possibilities for future mobility. The company is creating some of the most tech-forward cars and trucks under its various brands. GM has also delivered on the promise of a somewhat affordable fully electric vehicle with the Chevy Bolt EV, even if it already offers a hybrid electric model with the Chevy Volt.

The company's Maven ride-sharing service, launched a year ago to appeal to millenials, many of who aren't keen on owning cars and who would rather use Uber or Lyft to get around or rent a Zip car for a trek to Ikea or a day's road trip.

With Maven, which took to the stage yesterday to update NAIAS attendees on its progress and plans, GM has built a smart business and one that offers easy, affordable and high-tech ride sharing or rentals that have no fuel costs, include the latest technologies and gadgets plus include insurance. GM is now sweetening the deal by adding the brand spanking new Bolt EV to the fleet.

Cars that are owned by people are, for the most part, a wasted resource. They sit in a garage for most of their lifetimes, taking up increasingly scarce parking space and depreciating constantly. Ride sharing services, like Maven, offer users acces to a car when they need it without the hassle of maintainace.

Maven has leveraged GM's mastery of technology to make it possible for clients to access and start a car just using their mobile devices and Maven's app. To return the car, one only needs to complete the process via the app and customers never need to gas up, Maven proveds a gas card and you just have to make sure to return the car with 1/4 tank.

Maven is currently running in Canada but only in the city of Kitchener, Ontario, which is a pilot project. GM  wants Maven to be made available in more places in Canada. It will be interesting if the early excitement for this type of ride-sharing service will stick in Canada